Many Seniors Are Deficient in Nutrition: What You Can Do To Help

Many seniors are considered malnourished. This is mainly related to the fact that they rely on canned foods, frozen foods, or foods that are quickly consumed and digested, like simple carbohydrates. These food options are usually loaded with sugar, salt, chemicals, and preservatives. In recent studies, over 70% of the aging population suffers from malnutrition.

As individuals age, they may lose their appetite, defer to convenience foods, or forget to eat altogether if there are any cognitive impairment disorders like dementia, or Alzheimer’s.

Water plays a huge role in the bodies overall general nutrition. For those of us living in Florida’s warm climate, it’s imperative to stay hydrated throughout the entire year. In general, people can’t survive for more than 3-4 days without water. It’s critical for helping to remove bodily waste, regulating blood pressure and keeping your brain function alert. Without water, you can develop urinary tract infections, renal failure, confusion, fainting, low blood pressure, constipation, rapid heart rate and even death.

If there are any issues with digestion, the elderly usually tend to try and eat bland foods, like saltines, high-sodium soups, and processed cereals. This can lead to a deficiency in protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, which are highly important for feeding the brain, muscles, and joints. Along with raising blood pressure due to a higher volume of salt intake, these types of foods can also contribute to diabetic complications from an overabundance of insulin resistance from excess sugars.

Healthy digestion starts with the mouth. If teeth are missing, or dentures are ill-fitting, this can cause issues with proper nutrients being absorbed and utilized. Oral health is often overlooked, but fortunately, it is quite often an easy fix, which allows geriatric patients to start eating properly again.

Many assisted living or lower income geriatric apartment facilities that house the aging population, report that their residents are struggling with having enough money at the end of each month to buy the proper foods at the grocery store. Some residents don’t have any food at all. Many of these facilities take donations, if you have the opportunity to donate food, it can help out the older generation immensely.

Sometimes it can be quite difficult for seniors to feed themselves, due to arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, or complications from a stroke or TIA. If this is the case, they’re at extremely high risk of becoming malnourished and dehydrated very quickly. These folks most likely will need help several times a day, or around the clock. Often times they’ll require assistance with other daily activities as well. This is where an occupational therapist can be of great help, as they train the patient on ways to ease their daily tasks, like getting in and out of a chair, reaching into cabinets and feeding themselves.

The AARP has reported that 89% of elderly patients prefer to remain in their own homes, even if they require additional help or assistance. This is easily achievable through a qualified home health agency.

Touched By An Angel Senior Care is locally owned and composed of compassionate people who are deeply committed to helping our cherished seniors in our community age gracefully, safely and comfortably at home without compromising their dignity or independence. Because finding the right home care provider is not an easy task and can be overwhelming, Touched By An Angle Senior Care knows the obstacles that you face, having to watch a loved one struggle with day-to-day activities.

Touched By An Angel Senior Care knows this can be emotionally and physically draining and understands what you’re going through. They are here to help you reduce the stress, by providing a variety of home care services at an affordable rate for your loved one right at home. Their caregivers are carefully selected, trained, and thoroughly screened with extensive background checks. They make aging in place a less complicated process for you and your family.

Their goal is to provide clients with professional, convenient, customized and affordable care with no minimums required, while keeping their services “top notch.” They are dedicated to helping clients remain where they want to be the most—at home. Many things make our homes feel special, but it’s the comfort that’s most important to Touched By An Angel and their staff.

To learn more or to find out how Touched By An Angel Senior Care can help you or your loved one contact us today at 239-215-8803.

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