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| Dianna Malkowski |
by Dianna
Malkowski, Physician Assistant & Nutritionist
When visiting
elderly parents or other loved ones this holiday season, look for signs of
malnutrition and loss of mobility. Early identification and treatment can help
a senior get back on track.
When seniors
experience changes in eating habits and loss of mobility, it’s common to hide
problems from family members out of fear of being forced to move to a nursing
home. Spending time together over the holidays often is an eye opener for adult
children. They may notice Mom or Dad looks frail or can’t get around as easily.
Malnutrition can lead to physical and emotional problems at any age, but older
adults with poor nutrition are more likely to be admitted to hospitals or
long-term care facilities following illness, dementia or weight loss.
Look for
these signs of malnutrition:
- Loose clothing or other signs of weight loss
- Oral health problems, such as swollen or bleeding gums or tooth decay
- Excessive bruising that may indicate anemia
- Wounds that take longer than normal to heal
- Muscle weakness, fatigue or dizziness
Social and
psychological factors may contribute to malnutrition, such as little social
contact, limited income, depression, excessive use of alcohol, loss of appetite
because of recent illness, dental problems or trouble eating, medication that
affect appetite or nutrient absorption, and dietary restrictions that make food
unappealing.
Regularly
spending mealtimes together, not just holidays and special occasions, can be
effective in learning a senior’s eating habits. If an older adult lives alone,
family members should talk to the person who buys groceries. Whenever possible,
make meals more social by eating together, or encourage seniors to join
programs or groups where they might eat with others.
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| Mom's Meals include fresh ingredients and doorstep delivery. |
There are a
variety of programs to help seniors get proper nutrition. For those who don’t
qualify for government assistance, there are affordable services, like Mom’s Meals, which delivers nutritionally balanced, freshly prepared meals to a
customer’s doorstep. Mom’s Meals offers 45 unique meal choices, including
specialty choices like low-sodium, low-fat, gluten-free and more.
Family
members and friends who suspect a senior has lost mobility and is no longer
safe alone at home should consider monitoring devices, such as Philips Lifeline.
Auto-alert services like Lifeline can be manually operated or even place a call
for help if a fall is detected and the pendant wearer is unable to press a
button.
Ninety
percent of people want to remain in their own homes, yet each year, one in
three adults age 65 and older falls. The peace of mind in knowing a loved one
can get help when needed and won’t suffer from delayed medical care is invaluable.
For more
valuable aging-in-place tips, download our free fall prevention guide and visit our blog.
Dianna
Malkowski is a Board Certified Physician Assistant and Mayo Clinic trained
nutritionist specializing in diabetes, cancer, wound healing, therapeutic diets
and nutrition support. She serves on the board of professional advisers for The
CareGiver Partnership and enjoys working with patients and caregivers alike.
Watch this video on how to recognize and prevent malnutrition.
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