March Is National Nutrition Month
Good nutrition is vitally important for everyone, but did you know that the focus of nutrition shifts as we age?
Many people think that loss of appetite and the resulting weight loss are normal results of aging. But unnoticed appetite and weight loss can lead to serious health issues for seniors.
Significant weight loss can even be life threatening. Research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that nursing home patients had a significantly higher mortality rate in the six months after losing 10% of their body weight.
Along with the associated health risks, loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss can be symptoms of other medical and emotional issues that need to be addressed. Loss of appetite can be a side effect of medications, of underlying health conditions like kidney failure or dementia, or the result of loneliness and depression. Loss of appetite can even be related to something as treatable as a set of poorly fitted dentures, or the result of physical challenges like getting to the grocery store or struggling with cooking and cleaning.
With compassionate caregivers offering in-home help, changes in appetite and weight need not go unnoticed and can be addressed. And of course, an excellent treatment for loss of appetite related to loneliness and depression is connection and companionship. If you’d like a little extra peace of mind, we’re here to help. Contact us 24/7 for a free assessment to better determine your family’s needs: (817) 887-9401.
Source:
ClearCare
Murden RA, Ainslie NK. Recent weight loss is related to short-term mortality in nursing homes. J Gen Intern Med. 1994;9:648–50. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7853074