I have noticed that many of the seniors in my life are eating far less these days, and that concerns me. I understand that aging factors cause this, but I desperately want the seniors I love to eat right to lead a healthier quality of life.
Geriatric nutrition is a critical subject and must remain a priority, especially now. Times are tough, prices are inflated, and we’re weary following a pandemic. Many seniors are experiencing anxiety and not eating properly which is only exacerbating chronic health conditions, weakness, and mental and physical decline.
The bottom line is when it comes to senior health and well-being, proper geriatric nutrition must remain a priority.
Factors Impacting Geriatric Nutrition
As a doctor and middle-aged woman, I am acutely aware of the changes our bodies undergo as we age and how they factor into our appetites, our sense of taste, and our ability to digest food.
According to Everyday Health, the following issues impact geriatric nutrition:
- Our metabolism slows
- Our appetites change
- Our sensory of taste is altered, especially when medications are involved
- Our gastrointestinal tract changes
Our metabolism slows much like we do as we age, especially when we don’t get enough exercise. This means a less active person will need fewer calories than a senior who is more active.
Medication is a primary factor to appetite changes. Medicines have a host of side effects, many of which include upset stomach or other gastrointestinal problems. This definitely impacts appetites, what is eaten, and how frequently nourishing is provided to the body.
Medicine is also known to alter the sense of taste. Considering how much medication many seniors take daily, this can be a very common problem. Conversely, there are instances where seniors who are not taking medications lose their taste for heavily seasoned foods or foods they once greatly enjoyed, as simply another symptom of aging.
When it comes to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, Everyday Health explains, “Your body produces less of the fluids that it needs to process food in your digestive system when you get older. These changes can make it harder for your body to absorb important nutrients like folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12.”
Helpful Hints to Improve Geriatric Nutrition
In order to live a longer, healthier quality of life, nutrition must be a priority for seniors. Everyday Health provided these helpful hints to boost nutrition:
- Healthy fats are good. Select foods like seeds, nuts, avocados, salmon, and vegetable oils. Avoid saturated and trans fats.
- Stay hydrated. Hydration is critical for seniors. It’s important to avoid caffeinated and sugary beverages and drink plenty of water. Also, foods like soups, melons, cucumbers, and grapes are excellent sources of water, unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Choose whole grains. Whole grains are rich in fiber and nutrients that aid digestion and protect the heart. Brown rice, whole grain cereals, whole grain breads are much better selections than white bread and refined grains.
- Fiber is fabulous. Foods high in fiber, like raw fruits, vegetables, and whole grains aid digestion and reduce constipation. Fiber is rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients required for healthy aging, maintaining your weight, and reducing your risk of heart problems.
- Protein is powerful. “Power your body” with lean proteins, like beans, eggs, chicken, fish, lean cuts of meat, and nuts.
- Calcium is crucial. Seniors are strongly encouraged to eat a variety of low fat dairy products and other calcium-rich foods to get the recommended daily allowance and more for better bone health.
- B-12? Yes, please. Senior bodies do not absorb B-12 the way they used to, so it is important to include cereals fortified with B-12, and other foods with a healthy supply of the vitamin: meat, liver, dairy products, eggs, leafy vegetables, almonds, and legumes.
I hope you found this information to be helpful. If a compassionate caregiver can lend a hand with grocery shopping and nutritious meal planning and preparation, I would love to sit down with you for a FREE Consultation to assess your needs and develop the best care plan to boost your level of nutrition, as well as your overall health and well-being!
Home Helpers® Naperville & Wheaton is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for Veterans, seniors and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2022, as well as the 2022 Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a loved one: 630.800.3837
Sources:
Everyday Health
Healthline
