What Are the Dangers of Malnutrition for Your Senior?
September 14, 2017
As a family caregiver, you know how important it is for your aging parent to get the nutrition that they need on a regular basis. What they eat makes a tremendous difference in not only the health of their body but their functioning and their overall quality of life.
Unfortunately, many seniors suffer from malnutrition.
There are many factors that can lead to malnutrition for adults, from loss of sharpness in their senses to cognitive functioning decline to financial restraints. It is important that you understand not just that your parent may face malnutrition, but also the potential dangers that they could face as a result of that malnutrition so that you can help to prevent these problems from happening and protect your senior from these potentially serious consequences.
Some of the dangers that malnutrition can pose to your senior include:
• Unintentional, potentially severe, weight loss
• Tiredness
• Serious fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of strength and control in the muscles and joints
• Increased risk for depression
• Loss of memory or difficulty with memory skills
• Weakened immune system and increased risk for infection
• Anemia
• Greater difficulty recovering from illness and infection
• Greater risk of injuries such as bruises and cuts, and greater difficulty recovering from these
What can you do?
If you are concerned that your aging parent may be at risk for malnutrition or suffering from malnutrition, do not hesitate to talk to their doctor. Discuss this issue with them and allow them to guide you in making changes to your care routine and your parent’s diet to help ensure that they get the nutrition that they need at all times.
If you have been looking for a way to improve your elderly parent’s quality of life and help them to maintain a more fulfilling, healthier, and safer lifestyle as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them.
An in-home senior care services provider can be in the home with your parent on a fully customized schedule that ensures your parent will have the type of care, support, encouragement, and assistance that they need to help them handle their personal challenges and limitations in the way that is right for them. Highly personalized services allow your parent to stay as independent as possible while also ensuring that they are safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout their later years. As a family caregiver, this can give you confidence that your family member is in good hands both when you are able to be with them and when you are not.
If you are considering elderly care in Pittsburgh, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Liken Home Care.
Call (412) 693-6820 or (855) 856-0551
Source:
Nutrition Care
Family Doctor