A mom’s love for her children has no age restraints. And parents of all ages desire above all to shield their children from concerns, which sometimes may mean concealing their own worries. Moreover, when their loved ones live at a distance, it can be difficult to really know without a doubt just how healthy older parents are.
One of the leading challenges of aging is a decline in meeting one’s nutritional requirements. If you believe that your aging loved ones might not be getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy and well, this quick evaluation can assist in identifying potential red flags and help with avoiding malnutrition in seniors:
- Has the older person talked about a loss of appetite, problems with digesting food, or chewing or swallowing difficulties? Has there been a reduction in food consumption over the past few months as a result?
- Has the senior experienced a weight reduction over the last couple of months? Losing weight, particularly for seniors with a more inactive lifestyle, can signify that the person is not eating adequately.
- Does the senior have a problem with mobility? Being restricted to the home can result in dietary problems, as it is more problematic to get groceries or fix meals.
- Has the older adult been under mental stress or experienced an acute disease in the last several months?
- What is your senior loved one’s body mass index (BMI)? A BMI of 18.5 or lower may signify that the person is not eating enough, while a BMI of 30 or higher can indicate obesity.
If you find through answering these questions that a loved one could be experiencing problems with nutrition, it’s a good idea to consult with his or her doctor. Effraim Home Care can also help improve health and wellbeing for seniors through our services like:
- Preparing meals
- Accompaniment to doctor appointments
- Light housecleaning
- Errand-running
- Medication reminders
- And more
Our skilled home caregivers are caring, background checked and available for as much or as little care as needed. You can reach us online via our contact form or call our care team at (215) 826-7422 to learn more about avoiding malnutrition in seniors and how we can help with professional live in care in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. To learn more about all of the areas we serve, please see our full service area here.
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