Nutritional challenges for older adults

Nutritional challenges normally happen to older adults because of physiological and social alteration related with aging.

As we grow older, our bodies go through certain changes, even when we do not have any health issues. These changes influence our way of eating and usage of nutrients from our diet. Some older adults may not be conscious about these changes and begin to undergo a decrease in health due to deficiency of nutrients.

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Reasons nutritional requirement change with aging

There are different reasons why nutritional needs changes:

• Inactivity: When there is a lack of physical exercise, people become less energetic, metabolism become weak and their need of energy reduces. These can be the reasons why older adults eat less.
• Weak capacity to use nutrients: The capacity to absorb and use all nutrients becomes less efficient as you grow older but the need of nutrition actually increases.
• Chronic diseases: Another reason which influences nutritional need can be different chronic illness and medications.
• Deceased appetite: There is a loss of appetite among older adults which is a reason of limited choices of food and lesser consumption of healthy diet.
• Oral issues: Normally aging goes along with different oral health issues that makes swallowing weak which influence food intake.

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 Problems caused by nutritional challenges

Nutritional challenges for older adults can cause different health issues that are listed below-

• Weak immunity: When your body lacks nutrition, it can lead to weak immunity power that can raise the chances of infections.
• Poor wound healing: The chances of infections become high in older adults when any open wound takes more than one week to cure. It can even lead to diabetes.
• Weakness of muscles: Muscle weakness and low bone mass may lead to osteoporosis which makes the bone weak and fragile. This can happen due to deficiency of calcium and vitamin D.
• Risk of hospitalization: Elders having nutritional problems get various diseases which may increase the chance of hospitalization and sometimes even death.

Monitoring nutrition

The best option to overcome nutritional challenges is to improve the normal habits of eating and drinking. You can always monitor your nutritional health and the risk factors. You can observe the following:

• Monitor eating habits: You need to observe the kind and quantity of diet you eat and keep a record of your weight
• Keep record of medications: You can keep a track on all medicines, dosages and side effects of the elderly.
• Make meal plans: You can make healthy meal plans for the older adults and prepare meals with your family. This will help you to eat healthy food.
• Physical activity: Doing regular exercise can increase your appetite and makes bones and muscles strong.

Improving nutrition

Different strategies to assist older adults to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet are listed below.

• Healthy diet: Older adults can consume foods which are rich in nutrient such as seasonal fruits and green leafy vegetables, whole grains, fishes which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and so on. You should always try to eat balanced diet.
• Spices and herbs: Different herbs and spices improve the taste of foods. Therefore, you can add flavors by adding them in your meals.
• Healthy snacks: You need to plan snacks which are healthy and nutritious for the elders like low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
• Healthy supplements: You can include nutritional supplemental meals and drinks which are rich in vitamins, calcium, minerals and protein.

Conclusion

It is clear that quality of diet has a great impact on physical and cognitive state, health of bone, eyes, and teeth. It also influences the immune system. It helps to delay the development of diseases related to age among older adults. It is essential to always keep a track on nutrient intake and the pattern of food consumption.