The Elderly and Malnutrition Essays - 1694 Words

The Elderly and Malnutrition At any age, nutrition is vital to maintaining health and enhancing quality of life. However, achieving good nutrition can be especially difficult for the elderly, the fastest growing portion of Americas population. Many factors, including physiological changes, changes in nutritional needs, illness and physical limitations, food-medication interactions, depression and loneliness, and food insecurity are common causes of malnutrition in the elderly. This paper will explore factors affecting elderly nutrition, provide suggestions for obtaining and maintaining good nutrition after age 65, and describe the services available to help the elderly meet their nutritional needs.†¦show more content†¦The RDA for protein for seniors is 12-14% of the diet. Protein is needed to build and maintain body tissues, and these needs increase for individuals during illness and after surgery (8). Although fat digestion decreases with age, a small amount of fat is still necessar y since it is a concentrated energy source and transports vitamins. No more than 30% of total calories should be from fat. Carbohydrates should make up 50% of daily calories, and 25-35 grams of fiber should be eaten to prevent GI stress. Overall, caloric needs decrease with age, generally a 10% reduction between the ages of 51-75 and up to a 15% reduction after age 75 (8). These needs are not exact; they are dependent on both activity level and body composition. Although calorie needs decrease, the elderly have an increased need for certain vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is especially important for the elderly to eat foods that are nutrient dense (6). They should eat an array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish, poultry, low-fat milk, and dairy products while reducing intake of sweets. Physiological changes and changes in nutritional requirements are not the only cause of elderly malnutrition. Illness and physical limitations often affect nutritional status, as 19.7% of people over age 65 have at least one disability and 28.8% reported a limitation caused by a chronic condition (9). ForShow MoreRelatedMalnutrition Among The Elderly : Malnutrition1681 Words   |  7 PagesMalnutrition in the Elderly The general objective of this research paper is to increase awareness about a mostly hidden epidemic among the elderly. Studies show one in every two older people are at risk for malnutrition. (Drewnowski Evans, 2001) Findings also show that hunger among the elderly is an enormous, far-reaching problem found in places across the globe, but the United States seems to be an unlikely place to find starvation where food is plentiful. 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