With many family caregivers living far away from their senior family members, and often managing their own day to day activities, it is difficult to know when and how often their senior mom or dad may eat.
Also because the symptoms of malnutrition are not easy to diagnose, they often go unnoticed.
Seniors and Malnutrition
According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch, “The United States has done a good job of making the obesity epidemic a public-health priority. But it has largely ignored an equally important threat: elderly malnutrition.”
Unfortunately, The lack of quality diet is associated with many risks, many of which increase the health problems common among seniors and older adults.
Malnourished seniors also have a greater fall risk, weakened immune systems, and an increased risk for getting secondary infections or ailments.
There are many factors that influence malnutrition in senior populations, some of those include:
Depression
Lack of transportation or support systems
Restricted diets,
Dental problems
Medication interactions
Being on a fixed income
Getting adequate nutrition is important for seniors to remain independent and to have a higher quality of life. The best way to prevent malnutrition in seniors and older adult is to speak with a doctor or a nutritionist who can create a nutrition plan.
At Amorycare, our caregivers understand the importance of nutrition for our seniors and are able to help seniors and older adults get proper nutrition.
Here are some of the dangers that malnutrition can pose to your senior include:
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Risk for depression
• Memory loss
• Weakened immune system and increased risk for infection
• Anemia
• Difficulty recovering from illness and infection
• Greater risk of injuries such as bruises and cuts, and greater difficulty recovering from these
If your loved one has difficulty adhering to a healthy diet, home care might be appropriate options for them. Whether they have dietary restrictions or difficulty with chewing and swallowing, or they simply lack the ability or desire to plan a menu and prepare their own well-balanced meals, having a caregiver come out to your senior’s residence can help ensure that they receive adequate nutrition.
To find out more about our senior care options, Call Us at 908-409-1924 or contact one of our Care advisors today. Amorycare offers care services in these towns in Union County NJ, Berkeley Heights, Summit, Linden, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Murray Hill, Plainfield, Mountainside, Garwood, Clark, New Providence, Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Winfield, Kenilworth, Vauxhall, Cranford, Springfield, Union and Fanwood NJ.
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