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| Nutritional needs change as we age. |
Whether you are a senior, or the caregiver, or concerned child of one, it is important to understand how our nutritional needs change as we age. Many seniors suffer from the effects of having a diet that is low in nutrition.
This is unfortunate because of the many benefits of having a healthy diet which can include but are not limited to:
- Increased mental acuteness
- Resistance to illness and disease
- Higher energy levels
- More robust immune system
- Faster recuperation times
- Better management of chronic health problems
Many seniors find that there are significant obstacles in maintaining a healthy diet. Knowing and understand what these obstacles can be is the first step toward helping your senior gain some better nutrition in their diet. These obstacles can include:
- Decreased activity level-Seniors will often cut back on activity for physical and medical reasons. Weigh gain can result from the decrease in calories burned, and poor digestion can become a problem.
- Lifestyle changes-Newly single seniors may not know how to cook, or may not feel like cooking for one. In addition, many seniors are on limited budgets and might have trouble affording a balanced, healthy diet.
- Metabolism-The metabolism slows down as we age and this can become a problem in maintaining a healthy diet.
- Taste and appetite-As we age our senses of taste and smell diminish, so some seniors may be inclined to season their food more heavily than before (even though seniors need less salt than younger people). In addition, they may struggle with loss of appetite due to lifestyle, loneliness, or a medical condition.
- Health issues-Physical ailments and prescription medications can often negatively influence appetite. It is important to talk to your doctor about overcoming side effects of medication, or specific physical conditions.
- Digestion-Due to changes in your digestive system as you age you will generate less saliva and stomach acid, making it more difficult for your body to process certain vitamins and minerals, such as B12, B6, and Folic Acid, which are necessary to maintain mental alertness, a keen memory, and good circulation.
- Emotional factors-This can include factors such as loneliness and depression which can affect your diet. Eating with other people, getting out, and reestablishing a social life can all be helpful if this is part of the problem.
For many seniors the obstacles of eating a nutritionally balanced diet can be helped with some minor interventions. Meal delivery, eating out socially, a caretaker, can all make a great change in the diet. However if your senior is suffering from health problems or is recuperating from surgery you may want to consider nutritional supplements. At Caregiverpartnership.com they offer a wide variety of shakes, juices, and puddings to help boost your senior’s nutrition in an easy to eat way. There are also options for those seniors who are diabetic or have special dietary needs such as higher fiber. The knowledgeable specialists at the site can help you determine the items that will work best for your senior’s special nutritional needs.
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