As we get older, cell turnover decreases and leads to the decrease of the normal functioning of the organs. A prevalent condition in otherwise healthy old adults is sarcopenia results from the natural decrease in skeletal muscle mass, which directly affects the independence of old adult to conduct daily activities such as walking, cooking and exercising. Therefore, Sarcopenia is one of the reasons for malnutrition in the elderly since it interferes with their ability to obtain and prepare their meal. Sarcopenia should receive attention and thus more research on its treatment should be conducted because, without it, otherwise healthy old adult adults could enjoy their daily activities away from costly nursing homes and hospitals. This literature review shows that …show more content…
As individuals become older, they become less hungry. With age comes changes in body composition. The muscle mass lost with sarcopenia is compensated with accumulation of fat, so that the accumulation of fat increases as the accumulation of protein decreases. This fat-protein relationship means that old adults have less requirements for energy, reflected in their lack of appetite when compared to a younger population.
An increase in fat reserves and a decrease in fat reserves means that old adults have less stability and balance and less strength in their muscles, since this properties are given by proteins in the muscles. This makes it less likely that old adults will be independent enough to get food and prepare their meals. Furthermore, the increase in fat makes them heavier and less mobile and makes them more prone to obesity.
Malnutrition in the elderly is becoming more prevalent in the United States. A demographic profile from 2006 for malnutrition in old adults shows that 5-10% come from communities and that 60% come from hospitals. Since the elderly population is expected to increase, malnutrition becomes a major issue in public
Changes due to the aging process also need to be addressed. Calcium reabsorption increases especially in women after the menopause, this decreases bone density. Lean tissue decreases as fat increases with age; there is also a decline in the percentage of body water meaning that body temperature is more difficult to control. Thirst decline and decreased renal function means that older people can become dehydrated (Copeman 1999). The function of the bowel reduces, meaning that the elderly are more susceptible to indigestion and constipation. The risk of constipation is also increased with Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s UK 2011). The final consideration is the deterioration of the sensory system. Taste, smell, vison, pain and touch all decline meaning that food may not be as appealing (Copeman 1999).
As a person ages their nutritional needs change. For the most part all the requirements are the same just less of them. Because they have slower metabolism and do not do as much the need for larger amounts of calories is no longer there. Most elderly people do not dink enough fluids, part of this is do the as they age they become less aware that they are thirsty. This has to do with their kidneys and bladder not working as well. By not drinking enough fluids they become a higher risk for dehydration. Also by not drinking enough the age faster and their skin shows more sings of aging. Exercise is important but older people do not exercise enough or at all. This party because they as they age they lose range of movement. Most exercise class and sports activities do not offer classes or are not set up for the older people in the community. Weight training is good for the elderly it helps to keep their strength up. The simplest everyday things can count as exercise and help keep them
This year 76 million Baby Boomers in America are entering their fifties and sixties, yet this generation is not the only one suffering from diseases derived from an unhealthy diet. Advances in medicine have continued to preserve lives, but still researchers have not found a miracle that fully sustains the quality of everyday life. Overcrowding and neglect is the fate of patients seeking long-term medical attention if individuals continue to lack nutritional knowledge, and depend on the care of others to survive. Heart disease and diabetes type two are factors that lead to a life of dependency and make a significant contribution to the large population needing medical care. These specific diseases take years to develop and can last a life time. Acting to prevent them includes consuming an adequate diet and managing an active lifestyle. Prolonging physical health with the use of nutrition and ecercise can insure a longer, happier life as well as, alleviate the need for medical assistance for daily activities for those with diabetes and heart disease.
In recent years, there has been research involving the causes and consequences of poor nutrition among the elderly. Researchers continually work to distinguish risk factors of inadequate nutrition; the factors of most concern are “poor appetite, functional limitations, limited income, and social isolation” (Lirette, Podovennikoff, Wismer, Tondu, Klatt, 2007). Individuals at highest risk are those who live at home with a lack of family support (Krondl, Coleman, Lau, 2008). The diets of many elderly people are often low in calories and lacking important nutrients. All of these factors can affect the health and quality of life in the older adult. Nutrition plays a significant role in the health of
Obesity is a common issue in the older population, but it tends to decrease in extreme old age. As you age, decreased physical activity and decreased energy expenditure leads to fat accumulation. After age 65, muscle mass begins to diminish. If calorie intake continues at the same rate while the muscle mass decreases, the older person will most likely experience fat weight gain (Newman, 2009). The focus of treatment for the elderly population should be on reduction of intra-abdominal fat and preserve muscle mass and strength (Newman, 2009).
The disease associated with aging of the muscles is called “Sarcopenia.” What this is according to, “Tae Nyun Kim and Kyung Mook,” Sarcopenia causes “Reductions in muscle mass and physical activity levels decrease total energy expenditures, which results in the accumulation of fat mass, especially visceral fat.” Which is the reduction of the muscle fibers.
Sarcopenia results in unfavorable and detrimental effects on an older person’s physical function. Muscle mass decrease is probably the single most frequent cause of late-life disability among older people. It is directly responsible for functional impairment with loss of strength, and increased likelihood of falls and fractures, as muscles account for 60% of the body protein stores, the reduction in lean body mass has other health effects independent of its functional consequences (Rolland et al., 2008).
In today’s society malnutrition has always been an issue for older adults and young individuals. There has been studies that have stated that older adults among young people are the most susceptible to having poor eating habits. Malnutrition alongside obesity is a national issue. There have been many programs that have been put in place to solve this issues. There are many programs that are created in order to provide assistance for older adult’s health and safe (Nutrition and Aging, 2016).
Senior people, just like everyone else, need to eat properly to maintain health. Eating well can improve mental acuteness, resistance to illness, and energy levels. You have to maintain a healthy diet to have a positive outlook and being emotionally balanced. We, ExPO Signature Home Care, a home health care agency in New Jersey, helps our senior maintain a healthy diet is by providing them with of Go, Grow, and Glow foods.
For the past seven years I have seen my great-grandmother struggle with mobility. She has a weak heart with two valves that are very weak. This cause for her to have poor blood flow to her legs. She has developed sores that cause throbbing pain with bloody discharge. She struggles to walk and care for herself every day. Yet she does not give up and refuses to use assisted living.
Aging processing leads to physiological changes in the body composition (Yu et al., 2014). Specifically, there is a decline in the muscle mass. This loss of muscle mass has been illustrated to be the main factor of strength reduction in aging (Goodpaster et al., 2006). From the age of 50 to 70 years, the reduction of muscle mass is about 8% per decade. After that, the muscle mass loss is approximately increased to be about 15% per decade (Yu et al., 2014). The loss of muscle mass and strength throughout aging is called sarcopenia (Yu et al., 2014). Sarcopenia is often linked to frailty and bone
Nutrition determines a lot when it comes to the health of elderly (65 and above) patients. Over the past couple of years, nutritional status has been deemed to be of real importance in a variety of morbid conditions such as dementia, heart disease and cancer in persons over the age of sixty five. Despite the fact that malnutrition in the elderly does not have a uniformly accepted definition, abnormal body mass index (BMI) and involuntary weight loss are some of the common indicators. As it happens, health practitioners find it hard to diagnose weight loss as a symptom of malnutrition in elderly patients due to the fact that loss of weight is also part of the physiology of aging. Generally, elderly patients are challenged with the effects of aging, protein under-nutrition, weight loss, cognitive impairment as well as other vascular risk factors that threaten their health status. It is therefore important for elderly patients to follow a certain dietary recommendation that ensures they are not malnourished and as such remain healthy.
In fact, the exercise that worked when you were younger is now increasing your belly fat hormone and your cravings and hunger. It's also making you older and increasing the age of your body faster than it should be aging.
Aging risk factors, dependency on caregivers, and different types of abuse make it difficult to detect abuse in the elderly. A lack of adequate nutrients, or a poorly designed diet can lead to older adults having inactive lifestyles. The more a person is inactive the less muscle tone and flexibility they have. In addition, weaken muscles in the legs and arms make older adults unstable and prone to falls or bumping themselves into furniture, doors and other objects. More importantly, when older adults do not eat properly they are at risk of decreased intake of needed vitamins that are usually obtained in their diet; this can lead to less energy to do activities for daily living, like bathing or grooming themselves. Also, when older adults are
Although calorie needs decrease, the elderly have an increased need for certain vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is especially important for the elderly to eat foods that are nutrient dense (6). They should eat an array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish, poultry, low-fat milk, and dairy products while reducing intake of sweets.