Nutrition & Seniors
The Hardships of Under-Nutrition & Hunger throughout the Aging Population of America
More than 50 percent of seniors under another’s care are at risk for mal-nutrition or under-nutrition (Mayo Clinic/American Dietetic Association). When proper nutrition is lacked, (called mal-nutrition) it is not always due to not enough food. Noticing seniors that are suffering from malnutrition is not easy, and seniors can eat plenty but still be eating foods that aren’t supporting their health. Our caregivers support seniors in living independent, healthy lives. We developed an initiative to address senior nutrition issues for just this reason.
Nutritional needs change as the senior changes and ages. So to make a real impact in their quality of life, it is important to keep seniors fed properly as well as healthy. We want family members and caregivers to be mindful of options to carefully watch the nutrition of seniors you care for. Comfort Keepers’ nutrition fact sheet is available to download to learn more about noticing malnutrition as well as hunger in seniors, it also includes ideas for eating healthy to manage symptoms as well as eating healthy on a fixed income.
Visit our blog, our Comfort Keepers Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter to learn more in regards to ending senior hunger.
As a family member, loved one, or caregiver, it is important to look for symptoms and signs of malnutrition or hunger in seniors. To get tips on how to monitor the nutrition of seniors in your care, read below:
- Know what medications the senior takes as well as how often the meds can affect digestion and appetite. Use the resources available through your local retail pharmacist to check for possible side effects of prescribed medications or drug nutrient interactions.
- Anyone can assist in the cause against senior malnutrition and hunger by giving non-perishable food items to their local participating Comfort Keepers office. Find your local office by clicking here, then call for the dates for food collection.
- Easy bruising, dental difficulties and poor wound healing are all physical problems that should be watched for.
- Monitor closely the eating habits of the senior and ask them to tell you when and where they eat, but self-reports should not be relied upon alone. Seeing as our caregivers often have meals with seniors at home, normal eating habits may be easier for them to notice.
- Keep track of weight loss, this may require taking to the doctor’s office to check their weight when the senior cannot stand without help or buying a home scale if they can stand.
- A senior’s consumption can improve when family members visit during mealtimes, suggest this to loved ones. Be certain you know who is buying the senior’s food if they live alone.
- We suggest seniors, their loved ones and other caregivers talk to their doctors about tests that can detect nutrition-related problems such as chronic malnutrition if there are medical questions about medication, health, and nutrition.
Visit the Comfort Keepers blog to continue learning about the problems of nutrition and hunger facing seniors.