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NutritionMALNUTRITION AND DEHYDRATION THE TWIN CHALLENGES OF SENIOR NUTRITIONDid you know that according to a June 2006 report by CNN.com and the Mayo Clinic, more than half of all seniors cared for at home are malnourished or undernourished? And this next piece of information may surprise you even more. As reported in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), a recent study at UCLA showed that nearly one-third of the nursing home residents who participated in this research were dehydrated. Why are these problems occurring? Well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) www.fda.gov explains there are various barriers to seniors achieving proper nutrition. These include financial constraints on food purchases; adverse reactions to medications (for instance, affecting appetite); or medical problems that limit shopping or cooking abilities, or interfere with the enjoyment of food. Another problem is social isolation. The FDA’s online Growing Older, Eating Better brochure indicates that seniors who live on their own may be too lonely or unmotivated to cook nutritious meals for themselves. Others may not know how to cook – especially widowed men whose wives traditionally handled food preparation in the household.Thus, isolation may result in seniors trying to meet dietary needs by snacking – perhaps on unhealthy foods – or just skipping meals totally. These poor nutritional habits can result in diminished quality of life; longer times of recovery from illnesses and injuries; and increases in the cost and frequency of admittance to hospitals or other care facilities. For more information and a list of foods download our document on nutrition Click Here |