The Elderly and Malnutrition Essays

It’s also important a person with dementia sees a nutritionist so they get the correct and balanced diet.

For most Americans, the word poverty means insufficient access to to housing, clothing and nutritious food that meet their needs for a healthy life. A consequence of poverty is a low socioeconomic status that leads to being exposed to poor nutrition. Since food and dietary choices are influenced by income, poverty and nutrition go hand in hand. There are many important factors that threaten the nutritional status of poor people. The number one factor is not having enough money to buy food of good quality and quantity. Not having enough money can have a profound impact on the diets of low-income people. Limited financial resources may force low income people to make difficult decisions about what kind and how much food to buy. Limited

1.3 Outline how other health and emotional conditions may affect the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia

As a person ages, theirs body cannot perform the way it used to. This will cause many elderly people to loose their job or choose to go into retirement. Both of these options cause a loss in health care as well and a reduced or exterminated income. Here alone lies a reason that the elderly population is challenged. The elderly population also has a tendency to develop a chronic illness that can be life threatening if not treated or controlled properly. This means that need for health care treatments also increases. At least 40% of those over age 65 will have nutrition-related health problems requiring treatment or management (Gigante, 2012). It is important to realize that 10% of people over the age of 65 and will develop Alzheimer’s disease and 50% of those over the age of 85 will develop this disease (Gigante, 2012). More elderly African American men and women use government aid than white men and women. Therefore, this population will be vulnerable because of the lack of funding, proper health care and insurance.

Nutrition is essential for the whole being of the individual. The body needs nutrients to be healthy and fight off acute illnesses and infections. Mauk (2014) stated that “elderly clients may be at increased risk for poor nutrition due to the fact that they have multiple chronic illnesses… that can interfere with their

If I were a seventy year old man I would need to increase my intake of all food groups except the high fat and cholesterol. I would need lean meats and fish to avoid the cholesterol increasing foods. Depending on kidney function I would eat large amount of protein as well to keep the healing process available for the aging body. According to the

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

The subjects for this study were adults of 64 years of age and over, from a previous study called the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Ageing and Diet (HELIAD). All

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).

To inform policy and public health decisions that support nutritional health for seniors, it is important to understand the factors that are associated with nutritious diets among seniors. While physiological changes in seniors’ body create issues for nutrient intake, they also face the cumulative effect of socioeconomic and behavioral factors (Donini, et al, 2013; Mojon et al, 1999; Morley, 1997; Morley et al, 1997; Palacios & Joshipura, 2014; Shatenstein, 2008; Walls & Steele, 2004; Wellman et al, 1997). Research on nutritional risks among the elderly has examined a variety of socioeconomic and behavioral predictors

According to the American Nursing Association, obesity in seniors has been increasing by dramatic amounts and "As the aging population increases in number, so too will the number of chronic illnesses, which often accompany aging, increase in our society." Listed among the most common of these ailments are arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

Nutrition is one of the major determinants of successful aging,” according to the American Dietetic Association (April 2005). Good nutrition supports health and independence by reducing the risk of chronic disease and slowing disease progression. Older adults who remain well-nourished are less likely to develop infections, have shorter hospital stays, heal faster and experience fewer complications than those who are poorly nourished. Unfortunately, a significant portion of adults 65 and older have suboptimal diets, lacking in key nutrients (Hungry)

Your doctor can generate a referral to a senior health nutritionist. 4. An Occupational Therapist. Inability to get food from the plate can contribute to senior weight loss. Embarrassment with spills and difficulty managing utensils may cause a disinterest in eating. A skilled occupational therapist can evaluate and determine what part of feeding is most difficult for your loved one and can recommend the most appropriate item of equipment to make the task of feeding easier. 5. Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels of America is a nationwide resource to provide nutritionally balanced meals to seniors who are homebound and/or are unable to prepare meals for themselves. The services are sometimes free or are available at a nominal fee. Inquire about their ability to accommodate special diets including a renal diet or heart healthy diet. 6. Seattle Sutton. Seattle Sutton provides health conscious nutritionally balanced meals nationwide. You can order online and have meals delivered to your home. The meals look appetizing and offer lots of variety. 7. Your Family Dentist. Regular dental examinations can ensure dentures, bridges, caps, fillings, and natural teeth are in good working order and are not a source of

Senior citizens that have health problems that making cooking or getting to the grocery store difficult usually have to eat food that has a lower amount of nutritional quality to it. That is why active adult life communities offer restaurants or a cafeteria that they can go to for a meal instead. This ensures that they don't become vitamin deficient.

The prevalence of diabetes increases with age. Approximately 21% of older adults aged 60 years in the United States have diabetes. According to CDC, from 1980 through 2011, the rate of diagnosed diabetes increased 167% for people aged 0-44 years, 118% for those aged 45-64 years, 140% (9.1% to 21.8%) for those aged 65-74 years, and 125% (8.9% to 20.0%) for those aged 75 years and older. In general, throughout the time period, the rate of diagnosed diabetes increased among people of all age groups. In 2011, the prevalence of diabetes among people aged 65-74 (21.8%) was more than 13 times that of people younger than 45 years of age (1.6%).