Eldercare: How Seniors Nutritional Needs Change
Elder care providers should be aware of nutritional needs of seniors. As we age, our eating habits change, partially due to physical changes. For example, poor dentures coupled with less saliva may make it difficult for seniors to manage dry foods. Dulling of senses, such as touch, taste, smell, and sight will also impact the appeal of certain foods. Sweet or salty sensations typically decline with age as well potentially resulting in overseasoned food.
Spicy foods can affect metabolism and result in heartburn or gas. The spiciness is an attempt to overcome the gradual loss of taste. Caregivers should be alert to added sodium as well since adding salt may make food more palatable, but could also lead to water retention.
Reducing salt for blood pressure related issues becomes more important and increasing calcium for bone health becomes more important.
As we age, the ability to absorb nutrients from food may also be compromised. Roughly 30% of seniors lose the ability to produce stomach acid, and therefore their system may not absorb b12 or folic acid. Both of these important nutrients are important for neurological health. Loss of memory, numbness of the extremities and decline in mental alertness could all be diet related issues.
As our bodies slow down, so does the movement of food in the intestine. An unfortunate side effect of aging is slowing of the food through our system, resulting in harder stools and issues like constipation.
There are some tips that help manage eldercare nutritional requirements:
- Eat a variety of foods from five of the six major food groups (fruits; vegetables; breads and cereals; milk and cheeses; meat, poultry, fish, and dry beans) to obtain all the nutrients needed for good health.
- Eat nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk and cheese, poultry, fish and beans.
- Avoid fatty foods with empty calories
- Limit fat intake to less than 30% of calories
- Avoid salty snacks
- Add fiber to the diet
- Avoid foods that can cause gas
- Offer moister foods in smaller portions more frequently
- Increase foods rich in calcium
- Avoid sugary foods with empty calories
- Be sure to serve plenty of fluids, especially water
- Be aware of drug interactions with foods
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prn is a home health care provider located in the Pittsburgh metro area, specializing in elder health, home health care, in-home health services and long term care.