VISITING ANGELS MURRIETA, CA 951-639-5949
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How to look for Malnutrition in Seniors Health

How to look for Malnutrition in Seniors Health

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 so much 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 since before COVID-19 rocked our world and has always been a challenge for families.

When seniors indulge in a poor diet it can often result in decreased immunity, leaving our seniors more susceptible to COVID-19, malnutrition, other illnesses. A poor diet can lead to other health concerns beside malnutrition, 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.

Is My Loved One at Risk of 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 for themselves. According to the Mayo Clinic other physical, social, and psychological factors can also contribute to decreased senior health.

  • Physical: When evaluating senior health, it is best to consider they may not be eating well due to physical issues. Seniors tend to struggle to stand for long periods of time, which can affect them cooking healthy meals. Their dentures may not be sitting correctly in their mouth, leading to pain while they chew. Medical diagnoses like Parkinson’s disease and arthritis can make it difficult to chop or prepare meals.
  • Social: Meal times are often a way to socialize, which most seniors have not been able to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. While they are keeping themselves safe, they are also left alone. Senior isolation is very common and tough to go through—when left unnoticed it can become worse over time. Cooking for just one may seem pointless to a lonely senior, leaving them turning to unhealthy, convenient options. Typically, this ends with seniors choosing to eat unhealthy foods that are high in sodium and low in nutrients—like fast food or frozen meals.
  • Psychology: Grief, depression, isolation, and loneliness are all other type 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 than not, individuals struggling with these psychological issues indulge in unhealthy “comfort foods”, other times they lose their appetite all together.

What Visiting Angels of Murrieta, CA is doing in Response to Nutrition During COVID-19

At visiting Angels of Murrieta, we work with our families to create custom care plans so that they are never left worried about their loved one’s care.

Call Visiting Angels Murrieta at 951-639-5949 to set up a no cost, no obligation consultation today. One of our expert team members will be available to answer any and all questions about our senior health care services.

Serving Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels MURRIETA, CA
25096 Jefferson Ave Suite B212
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 951-639-5949
Fax: 951-639-3664
HCO #334700056

Serving Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels MURRIETA, CA
25096 Jefferson Ave Suite B212
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 951-639-5949
Fax: 951-639-3664
HCO #334700056