Malnutrition in Senior Health and Its Causes

Due to COVID-19 may seniors have stopped going to the grocery stores or local farmers markets themselves, doing their best to avoid large crowds in order to keep themselves safe. With concern around COVID-19, it is easy for seniors and their families to overlook a poor diet—which is a major risk for senior health. However, poor diets and malnutrition have been a concern prior to the pandemic, as it has always been a challenge for families.

Scientists has shared that while the virus is still carrying on, that it’s imperative to increase senior’s immune systems with nutrient rich foods. Seniors’ health is at a higher risk to contract COVID-19 when they have a weakened immune system. While a poor diet can often result in decreased immunity, it can also lead to malnutrition. With malnutrition there are multiple health issues, such as:  

• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of bone density
• Slow healing wounds
• Increased risk for falls

Knowing more about malnutrition and its risk factors will help you detect, address, and prevent any problems and Visiting Angels East Central Indiana are here to help.

Evaluating a Senior’s Risk for Malnutrition

There are many reasons that seniors experience malnutrition, but the most common reason is simply from them not having a way to get to and from the grocery store or lacking the ability to plan a healthy menu themselves. According to the Mayo Clinic other physical, social, and psychological factors can also contribute to decreased senior health.

Physical: When evaluating senior health, one should consider that they may not be eating well due to physical issues. A senior may be struggling to chew their food because of their dentures not fitting correctly, or maybe they are having a hard time with preparing meals due to struggling to stand for long periods of time or diseases that cause pain while chopping food—such as Parkinson’s disease and arthritis.

Social: Meal times are often used as a time to socialize with others, for many seniors that are social distancing from others for their health and safety, this may not be an option. Senior isolation is incredibly tough to go through and only get worse the longer its left undealt with. Cooking for just one may seem pointless to a lonely senior, leaving them to turn to unhealthy, convenient options like fast food or frozen foods. Many of these “easier” foods contain processed ingredients that are low in nutrients and high in sodium.

Psychology: Grief, depression, isolation, and loneliness are all other types of mental issues that can affect senior health. Many triggers can off-set a senior’s eating habits, events such as a death or fear of the coronavirus. More often, individuals struggling with these psychological issues indulge in unhealthy “comfort foods,” other times they lose their appetite all together.

How Visiting Angels is Responding to Nutrition During COVID-19

If you are in the market for senior care for you or a loved one, reach out to Visiting Angels today. We have a compassionate staff that works hard to ensure that senior health is monitored, and that our clients are maintaining a healthy diet, despite the fear of coronavirus.

If you would like more information on senior health and how Visiting Angels East Central Indiana is working to combat this in seniors, give us a call at 765-703-4194.