As people age, several factors can make maintaining a healthy, balanced diet difficult. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition.
What is Malnutrition, and How Common is it in Older Adults?
Older adults may need fewer calories per day than younger adults, but their nutrient needs are similar or higher.
Malnutrition occurs when a person does not consume enough essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. As a result, your body cannot function properly. Malnutrition can affect a person’s ability to participate in daily activities and negatively impact their quality of life. An undernourished person is more likely to experience physical and mental decline and is at greater risk for serious illness.
You can’t always tell if someone is malnourished just by looking at them. Undernourished older adults may be underweight or overweight. For example, an obese person may consume enough calories but not get the essential nutrients they need to stay healthy.
In the United States, undernutrition among older adults is surprisingly common. According to a study published in The Lancet, about one in four adults aged 65 and over in the United States is undernourished or at risk of undernutrition.
Why are older adults vulnerable to undernutrition?
Undernutrition in older adults can result from a variety of physical, psychological, social, and practical factors:
Lack of appetite due to a medical condition or side effects of medications.
Difficulty chewing or swallowing, often due to problems with teeth or oral motor skills.
Cognitive impairment
Depression
Altered or diminished sense of smell or taste
Lack of motivation to cook after the death of a spouse
Inability to go to the grocery store or prepare meals for yourself
Unable to afford healthy foods
Signs and indications of malnutrition in older adults
Warning signs and symptoms of malnutrition include:
- muscle weakness
- feeling tired
- irritability or depression
- decreased appetite
- unplanned weight loss
- dental problems
- easy bruising
frequent illnesses or infections.
Some people experience a decrease in the sensation of thirst as they age. Dehydration, which occurs from insufficient fluids, is closely linked to malnutrition, and the two can co-occur. Drinking water daily to avoid dehydration, constipation, and urinary tract infections is essential.
How Poor Diet affects Health and Well-being
Some health problems that result from poor diet include:
- improved risk of heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- loss of muscle mass
- longer recovery from illness or surgery
- increased risk of infection
- slower wound healing.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of malnutrition, talk to your doctor. Tests are available to assess whether a person is at risk for or has malnutrition. A quick test, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), looks at food intake, weight loss, mobility, psychological stress, and body mass index (BMI).
Healthy Eating Strategies and Solutions
Treating malnutrition involves not just eating more but eating more healthy foods. The USDA website provides nutrition advice and information about the dietary needs of people aged 60 and over.
The following practical tips can help overcome some of the barriers that may interfere with healthy eating:
Prepare large batches of meals, stews, and soups and stock the freezer with individual servings that can be easily reheated.
If you don’t like cooking alone, try cooking with a friend.
Visit your dentist if you have trouble chewing.
Add herbs and spices to your nutrition if you have a decreased sense of smell or taste.
If you have trouble swallowing, drink plenty of fluids at each meal. (Also, tell your doctor so they can work with you to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulty.)
If you have little appetite, eat small meals and add a few nutritious snacks or meal replacement shakes throughout the day.
Look for meals offered at nearby senior centres or religious institutions. This can help address issues related to isolation.
Ask your doctor about being occupied with a dietitian who has experience treating malnutrition in older adults.
If meal preparation has become too complex, your doctor may recommend an occupational therapist to help you find ways to make meal preparation and mealtimes easier.
Treating underlying depression, if present, may also help improve appetite.
Community Resources for Meal Delivery Malnutrition
If going out for groceries is complex, many stores will deliver orders for little or no cost. There are also senior markets, food pantries, and food banks. Feeding America offers a website where seniors can find free food distribution services.
Meals on Controls America is a network of 5,000 community programs that deliver nutritious meals to nearly 2.2 million seniors annually for free or at very low cost, depending on income.
If paying for healthy food is challenging, the Supplemental Nutrition Support Program (SNAP) is the most extensive federal food assistance program. It can be a lifesaver for seniors, helping them buy the foods they need to stay healthy.