How to Prevent Malnutrition in Older Adults

Managing the nutrition of your loved one can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Our team at Qualicare wants to offer some tips during National Nutrition Month on how to make sure your loved one is getting the nutrients he or she needs.

Avoiding Malnourishment in Your Loved One

Malnutrition in older adults can lead to a number of health issues, including:

• Anemia
• Depression
• Listlessness
• Memory problems
• Muscle loss
• Unintentional or unexplained weight loss
• Weakened immune system

That’s why it’s so important for you to encourage healthier food choices in your loved one. Give the following tips a try.

First, try to fill your loved one’s plate with foods that are full of nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, like fish or turkey. If your loved one fills up on these nutrient-packed foods, he or she won’t have as much room left to divulge in foods packed with sugar, salt and fat.

Second, use snacks to add even more needed nutrients into your loved one’s daily intake. This is especially important if your loved one gets full quickly during breakfast, lunch and dinner times. This can be a common issue as we age, since we may not need as much food to feel full.

Healthy snacks that are easy to prepare include:

• Boiled eggs
• Fresh fruit
• Mixed nuts
• Yogurt
• Peanut butter and crackers

Finally, you want to try and make the food you serve your loved one as tasty as possible. If your loved one enjoys the taste, he or she is more likely to eat the meal.

Add some herbs and spices to your loved one’s food to amp up the flavor of foods that might otherwise be bland. However, make sure you are careful with seasonings that include salt, as too much sodium is harmful to our health.

Fear that your loved one might not be getting the nutrients he or she needs to maintain a healthy life? Visit the Qualicare website today to learn how our in-home care providers can assist in preparing meals as well as grocery shopping for your loved one.