Malnutrition happens when a person does not have the nutrients to function. It frequently entails a protein, calorie, and other key vitamin imbalance your body needs daily. While malnutrition is potentially dangerous at any age, it has a highly negative impact on older persons. If an older adult is malnourished, they are at a higher risk of falling, have slower recovery times, may require frequent hospitalizations, and can even die.
Here are six ways 55 plus communities in Riverview, FL, protect their residents from malnutrition.
How 55 Plus Communities May Help
There are several ways that 55+ communities in Riverview, FL could protect seniors from malnutrition:
- Providing access to nutritious meals: Many 55+ communities in Riverview, FL offer meals as part of their services, which can help seniors ensure that they are getting the nutrients they needailyis.
- Offering support with meal preparation: Some communities offer assistance with meal preparation, which can be especially helpful for seniors who may have difficulty cooking for themselves due to physical limitations.
- Offering flexible dining options: Some communities offer flexible dining options, such as delivering meals to residents’ apartments or allowing them to order meals to be delivered from local restaurants. This can help seniors who may have difficulty leaving their homes to get the nourishment they need.
- Providing education about nutrition: Many communities offer education and resources about nutrition, which can help seniors make informed choices about what to eat.
- Offering socialization opportunities during meals: Many 55+ communities offer socialization opportunities during meals, which can help seniors feel more connected and motivated to eat.
- Offering support for special dietary needs: Some communities offer support for special dietary needs, such as vegetarian or kosher meals, which can help seniors get the nutrients they need while adhering to their dietary preferences.
Symptoms of Malnutrition
Malnutrition does not only affect older adults who remain hungry or do not have access to nutritious foods. Older adults are more prone to chronic illnesses that put them at risk of malnutrition.
For example, if an older adult has diabetes, cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease, their appetite may be compromised, making eating inability. When dealing with disorders like these, your metabolism alters, and occasionally dietary limitations are required, placing older adults at risk of malnutrition.
Here are some symptoms of malnutrition:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Feeling exhausted or weak
- Appetite loss
- Fluid retention or edema
- Consuming a modest amount at a time
Reasons for Malnutrition
Less than the required diet or lacking essential nutrients may lead to malnutrition. But many factors or a combination of factors can lead to malnutrition. Some of the factors can be:
- Age-related changes: Aging certainly leads to the impairment of human abilities to taste, smell, and maintain a proper appetite.
- Illness: Some illness-related complications may also lead to altered appetite and the body’s power to process nutrients.
- Inability to eat: Malnutrition can be exacerbated by poor dental health, a limited capacity to manage dinnerware, or difficulties in chewing or swallowing.
- Medication: Certain drugs can impair your absorption of nutrition or your appetite.
- Dementia: With memory loss caused by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, one can easily forget to eat or buy food items.
- Dietary restrictions. When you manage medical issues with dietary limitations, it is common not to eat enough.
- Financial Constraints: Financial difficulties can make it difficult for older persons to purchase healthful diets, especially if they use pricey maintenance medications.
