3 Themes for Preventing Senior Malnutrition

Posted on

Jun 25, 2021

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Inpart oneof this two-part blog series, we went over three of the broad cause categories when it comes to senior malnutrition. Some seniors struggle with parts of their nutrition due to various physical, psychological or social issues, but caregivers or family members along with seniors themselves can take several prudent steps to work around these concerns.
At Cozy Retire, were proud to offer numerouscaring assisted living services, including nutritional assistance and several related themes for any of our residents who need some help here. Weve assisted many seniors who have struggled with malnutrition in the past, often with assistance from their family or caregivers. Todays part two of our series will go over some of the possible results ofmalnutrition in seniors, plus some important themes for preventing this from happening.
Common Results of Senior Malnutrition
In part one, we went over many ofthe causes of senior malnutrition. If such conditions are allowed to persist, some of the negative results seniors may experience include:

Healing: Seniors with improper nutrition often will not heal normally, whether were talking wounds or some other issue.
Immune system: Down similar lines, the bodys immune system is impacted by malnutrition, often leading to increased disease and infection risk.
Weakness: Both muscles and bones will weaken as a result of malnutrition, and when combined with additional senior risks in these areas, the potential for falls and injuries is far higher.
Hospitalization and death: And when seniors withpoor nutritionbecome sick, they are more likely to be hospitalized or even for their life to be at risk.

Preventing Senior Malnutrition
If youre a caregiver or family member of a senior who may have malnutrition concerns, there are luckily several steps you can take to prevent such risks. Many of these themes are also observed by our assisted living staff, and they include the following areas:

Observation: Without invading on personal space, observe basic nutrition areas like how much food is eaten, habits and other areas.
Meal plans: For seniors who struggle to make their own food or stick to consistent eating habits, help promote schedules, shopping lists and advanced planning. There are many at-home services that will also assist with this, such as food delivery or others.
Weight: Help a senior loved on check their weight, plus track it over time.
Medications: As medications may impact nutrition in a few areas, you should also track these the proper dosages, schedules and how various medications may affect appetite.
Exercise: Wherever possible and realistic, encourage physical activity to trigger the appetite and keep bones and muscles healthy.

Nutritious Choices
Down related lines, family members or caregivers can also play a role in promoting nutritious food choices. A few themes:

Nutrients: Things like fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean meats and fish all have high levels of quality nutrients.
Snacks: For those who like to snack between meals, consider low-fat dairy or various fruits and vegetables first.
Flavor: If your loved one prefers more variety in meals, utilize herbs and spices to mix it up.
Supplements: For seniors who struggle with calory intake or certain nutrients they dont get enough of, various supplements or nutritional drinks are a great resource.

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13 Apps Seniors Need for Convenience and Health

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