Nutrition and hydration are vital for everyone’s health, no matter what their age, but for elderly people, eating and drinking well is particularly important.
As we age, our nutritional needs can change, with senior citizens facing more challenges to maintain good health and stay hydrated.
Meals for elderly people should include plenty of nutrient-rich foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and lean protein because the body’s metabolism slows down as we age, so our ability to absorb nutrients diminishes.
Consequently, elderly people are at a higher risk of suffering from malnutrition, often due to a poor appetite and difficulties in chewing their food. This can lead to a weakened immune system, making them more at risk of infections and illnesses.
Maintaining a balanced, healthy diet is imperative, including giving senior citizens in care homes the support they need to ensure they eat properly.
Around 10% of people aged 85 and above who live alone have malnutrition, according to data from Age Concern UK. This equates to more than one million seniors who aren’t eating a balanced diet. Around 50% who are admitted into hospital, care homes or nursing homes are found to have malnutrition of varying degrees of severity.
The main reasons are having a smaller appetite; loose dentures leading to difficulties in chewing and swallowing; struggling to go out to buy food; and preparing and cooking meals becoming more of a chore.
The symptoms include a rapid loss of body weight which is unintentional and feeling tired and lethargic as a result. Some people put this down to old age and don’t realise they’re suffering from malnutrition.
Physical benefits of good nutrition
Good nutrition and hydration enable senior citizens to maintain a healthy body weight and avoid malnutrition. This means there’s less likelihood of suffering from the association health conditions such as muscle weakness, a poor immune system and impaired cognitive functions. It can also reduce the risks of problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections.
Ultimately, malnutrition can be fatal, so it’s imperative that the signs should be recognised quickly to reverse any health damage.
Mental benefits of good nutrition
Having a balanced diet and good hydration can also provide mental and emotional benefits, reducing the risks of anxiety, depression and confusion.
It can reduce fatigue and generally improve the person’s mood. Feeling better mentally can prompt the person to eat more, helping to alleviate the physical problems of an unhealthy diet too.
Preparing care home menus
Understanding nutrition for the elderly is a crucial part of any care worker’s day and care home menus must consider the changing needs of residents as they age.
Care home employees face specific challenges and must work with residents to develop strategies to overcome any eating problems. These can include modifying the meals’ consistency and texture to make it easier to chew and swallow their food.
Care workers should also be on hand to help residents with eating and drinking, such as providing practical aid, or serving them extra nutrients, including protein shakes, to complement their diet. Ensuring older adults drink sufficient fluids during the day, particularly when they are ill, or in hot weather, is crucial.
A scientific study published in the Clinical Nutrition journal in 2023 revealed 24% of older people were dehydrated during hot weather, but the majority didn’t realise.
Care home menu ideas
Care home staff face several challenges when trying to maintain a healthy balance for elderly residents. They must keep a record of their weight and check this on a regular basis.
If any weight loss occurs, speaking to a GP, practice nurse or another healthcare professional is a sensible course of action.
Caregivers must devise healthy diets that are also appetising. Starchy carbohydrates are the best source of energy, so base meals around potatoes, pasta, bread, rice and other foods high in carbohydrates. Healthy examples include wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta, chapati, pitta bread, brown rice, whole oats and wholegrain breakfast cereals.
It is vital for caregivers to have a particularly safe hygiene routine when feeding elderly people. When working in care homes, an outbreak of food poisoning among residents can be devastating and possibly fatal, as their immune systems won’t be as strong as those of younger people.
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