Nutrition and the Elderly, Part 1

November 9th, 2010 · No Comments

Most of us know that eating well is important to our health and well-being, but how many of us actually adhere to the dietary guidelines set forth by wellness experts? One segment of society that develops increasingly poor dietary and nutritional habits as they age is the elderly. As baby boomers move into their mid-sixties, the number of elderly people who are malnourished is also increasing.

Unfortunately, many family members and caregivers fail to recognize the symptoms of malnutrition in their loved one until their health becomes a problem. As part of our series on healthy living for seniors, we are going to discuss the possible signs of malnutrition, possible causes of poor nutrition, and what can be done to bring our loved one back to good health.

Possible signs of malnutrition

There are a number of signs that elderly people are not eating enough nutritional meals, but the signs and symptoms are sometimes mistaken for an illness or disease. When a senior loses his or her appetite and begins to lose weight, the first thought is to wonder if they are ill. We fail to realize their diet is so poor that they have become malnourished further causing loss of appetite, lethargy and weight loss.

Here are a number of signs that you can look for in your aging senior that may help you recognize whether they are becoming ill or not eating a balanced diet.

Loss of appetite. Observe how much and how often your loved one is eating. Try to identify the reason they are no longer interested in food.
Lack of interest in eating. When they no longer enjoy holiday meals or eating out at their favorite restaurant you may be seeing signs of loss of appetite.
Loss of weight. If you see your elderly senior losing weight at a fairly rapid pace and they are not on a diet, become concerned. They may be skipping meals or forgetting to eat.
Spoiled or expired food. Look in the refrigerator for a sign that your senior may not be eating the food in a timely manner. Also, they may be eating or drinking food that has expired, such as milk. Their sense of taste and smell may not alert them to the fact the food is spoiled.
Lack of energy. When someone is malnourished, they lose their pep and energy and no longer feel like participating in family activities. They become increasingly lethargic.
Physical changes in skin, body and hair. Those who are malnourished have an unhealthy look about them. Their hair looks dry and brittle, skin looks pasty or sags and their nails become ridged or spoon-shaped.
Memory loss or disorientation. What many of us believe could be an aging senior moving into dementia might be a lack of good nutrition. Eating healthy foods helps us retain our memory and thought processes. Or conversely, if our loved one has developed early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, that may be why they are not eating well or forgetting to eat.

When you notice these signs and believe your aging senior is no longer getting the proper nutrition their body needs, talk to their health care provider. Find out if there is a medical reason such as dementia or other illness, or whether they have lost their appetite or are forgetting to eat. Our next article will go into more depth about why they may be missing their meals and specific ways you can address the problem.

Nutrition and the Elderly, Part 2 – Possible Causes of Missed Meals

Nutrition and the Elderly, Part 3 – What We Can Do