Malnutrition Problems With the Elderly

It is common for elderly individuals to struggle with malnutrition problems as they don’t eat as much food because it doesn’t seem to taste quite as good as it used to in the past. This is all part of aging as your taste buds lose their senses over time and food seems less desirable.

Good nutrition is essential.

To avoid running into malnutrition problems try eating food that offers multiple vitamins and minerals and can even fill in for some of your meals. Pudding is a great snack item that will help to keep your blood sugar up for a couple hours.  Shakes are a great option to use as a substitute for a meal like breakfast or lunch.

When elderly individuals do not get all the nutrition they need, there are several health consequences that come up. Here are a few symptoms you need to watch out for:

• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Depression
• Digestive problems

Prevent dehydration drink plenty of water.

Colorful meals are the best option for elderly patients as they have a wide variety of nutrients. Sitting down and eating with your elderly parents or loved ones will provide them with a great meal and you will have the assurance that the foods they are eating are full of valuable nutrients and vitamins.

Use water bottles to manage your daily intake of water. You need to drink between 8-10 glasses of water per day to help flush the toxins from the body and to help the blood circulate properly. Tracking your intake of water using water bottles is a great way to prevent dehydration and other health issues that come when you aren’t drinking enough.


Some elderly individuals have trouble affording healthy foods. Living on a fixed income in your elderly years can be extremely difficult. Senior centers are great places to go to eat at least one healthy meal a day. They serve a variety of different meals each day and they are low cost in order to be affordable for individuals in a fixed or limited income. The other great thing about senior centers is that they have games are quite popular with other seniors. It’s a great way to get out of the house, make new friends, and enjoy a social life again.

                    Watch the video - how to recognize and prevent malnutrion in seniors

Depression is common amongst the elderly which is why it is so important to get out of the house. When a person becomes depressed, it is common to struggle with healthy eating habits. Nutritional shakes and meals are wonderful options as they are easy to make and they provide excellent nourishment.

There are a number of health problems facing the elderly. Always watch for weight loss with the elderly as this is the number one symptom of malnutrition. They will also have other problems like poor healing, easy bruising, and digestion issues. Try to spend time with your elderly loved ones when it is meal time so you can see them eating healthy foods. This allows you to observe what type of foods they have in their home and make sure to do some shopping for them if they aren’t as mobile and cannot get out of the house to purchase food. Home delivered meals might be an alternative, if cooking is a difficult or unsafe task.
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In addition to proper eating, you may need to help your elderly loved one with exercise. Exercise is important to keep the muscles strong and healthy so they can support the joints and bones. You also need to exercise to promote healthy blood circulation. Water aerobics, swimming, and walking are great ways to exercise.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.