Nutrition is a major component of care in a senior living community. Good nutrition is critical to one’s overall health and well-being. Seniors have different nutritional needs than middle aged adults. As people age, they tend to eat less and for a number of reasons. Medications may decrease appetite or make food taste different.
Older adults have higher rates of chronic medical conditions like diabetes and heart conditions which may interfere with appetite and eating behaviors. As a result, many seniors may not be getting adequate calories and protein. Too, malnutrition and weight loss can become very serious issues. It has been found in numerous studies that malnutrition in senior care is often underdiagnosed.
Malnutrition
There appears to be no single, agreed-upon definition of malnutrition in the literature concerning seniors. Despite this, malnutrition is a very serious problem for many seniors living in skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities. Common indicators of malnutrition include involuntary weight loss, abnormal body mass index or BMI, specific vitamin deficiencies, and decreased dietary intake.
Why is Malnutrition Underdiagnosed?
Healthcare professionals may simply not recognize weight loss as a morbid symptom of malnutrition. Instead, they may associate it with age-related conditions, such as reduction in muscle mass. Obese seniors may experience protein undernutrition, because staff overlook it as a problem.
Causes of Malnutrition
Malnutrition among seniors in care centers can be associated with a number of factors including:
- Lack of interest in food
- Changes in taste buds
- Side-effects of medications
- Restricted diets (e.g. low sodium, low fat)
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Poor dental health or dental pain
- Depression
- Cognitive impairment
There are also a number of health concerns related to malnutrition including weakened immune system, risk of infections, poor wound healing, muscle weakness and deterioration, increased falls and fractures, and further disinterest in eating or lack of appetite.
Causes of Weight Loss in Senior Living Communities
In senior care, it is more common to be concerned about weight loss versus weight gain. There are a number of medical conditions and dietary and social factors behind weight loss.
Medical conditions causing weight loss include diabetes, heart disease, hyper- or hypothyroid disease, dental, swallowing or digesting problems, medications, cancer, COPD, arthritis, diminished sense of smell or taste and a recent hospitalization.
Dietary Factors include meals limited in salt, fat and sugar, bland and institutionalized food, and calorie and fluid restrictions. Social factors include the dining room environment, room temperature, noise level, and food choices.
Final Thoughts on Malnutrition and Weight Loss in Senior Care
While senior care centers do their best to deliver good meals and dining experiences, age-related problems are working around the clock to cause weight loss and under- or malnutrition. To effectively treat these problems, clinical staff should monitor nutritional and fluid intake regularly and intervene when irregularities arise. In senior care, the greatest worry is losing weight, not gaining it.
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