Nora de Cárdenas, J.D.

We are what we eat, right?  Good nutrition is beneficial at any age, but in particular for our aging loved ones. The benefits worth noting are increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness/disease, higher energy levels, a more robust immune system, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. Unfortunately, one thing we have observed in our years in caring for clients is that when seniors start to struggle at home by themselves, nutrition suffers.  Reasons can vary from budgetary constraints to medical issues such as depression, dementia, chronic illness or physical limitations.

Nutrition might not be near the top of your list of worries for your aging parent, however, it really should be.  Proper nutrition for older adults is even more important than ever, with research revealing that poor nutritional decisions can eventually lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Preliminary studies have shown a connection between omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These conclusions, released in a series of published papers by a researcher at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, show how a diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia. (1)

For some seniors living at home, the tasks of planning, purchasing and preparing meals feels like it is not worth the effort or they simply cannot handle it anymore. Or, there might be other factors that have come into play. Much like assessing mental capacities, assessing nutritional habits may require some reading between the lines.  What you see on the outside is your loved one not eating well. The underlying cause might be something that can be remedied or even avoided.  Common themes of seniors not eating well often center around and may be due to:

• Inability to chew:  ill-fitting dentures, tooth issues or weakened jaw muscles
• Upset stomach:  too much gas or medication irritation to stomach lining
• Reluctance to shop for groceries:  inability to drive or cognitive inability to make shopping lists or plan meals
• Inability to cook:   difficulty standing for long periods of time, unable to reach utensils or cooking accessories and even fear of leaving oven or stove on after cooking

According to authors Maria M. Meyer and Paula Derr in their Caregiving.com article (2), check the following when you want to assess the nutrition risk for your loved one.  If the answers to most of the following questions are “Yes,” your loved one is at risk and you should contact a professional for some nutritional intervention.

• Has your loved one recently lost weight? About how much?
• Have they experienced any recent appetite loss? For how long? (days, weeks, months)
• Do they have difficulty chewing or swallowing?
• Any food allergies?
• Do they need to be on a special diet?
• Do they eat fewer than 2 meals per day?
• Do they eat few fruits, vegetables, and dairy products? How many servings per day of each?
• Do they drink alcoholic beverages every day?
• Do they eat most meals alone?

Observing, assessing and planning can be a tall order for family members.  Taking the responsibility for someone else’s health and well-being is stressful and sometimes out of a person’s comfort zone.  There is help.  One of the roles of our company, Visiting Angels, is to provide a professional aide that can help with meal planning, food shopping and cooking.

Many professional aides are trained to factor in good nutrition while making meals more pleasant and flavorful. They will create a plan with options and advice to improve your loved one’s nutritional health and quality of life. Additionally, the experience of engaging the senior in the planning process and helping them feel like they are contributing can bring the joy back into their dining. Eye-catching table settings and caring companionship can do much to lift the moods of those needing care while helping to insure a balanced nutrition.

And, with nice weather hopefully on the horizon, thoughts of outdoor activities for our seniors should be close at hand. Staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent and delay many diseases and disabilities, not to mention improving one’s overall sense of well-being. In my next article, I will focus on how professional caregiving can incorporate physical activities for your loved one.

If you have any immediate questions on this article or any other home care related topics, please visit http://www.VisitingAngels.com/Burling-Mercer or call 609-883-8188.

1 Karolinska Institutet; Omega 3 fatty acids may slow down early Alzheimer’s in some cases. http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=17909&d=2637&l=en&newsdep=2637

2 Caregiving.com. Nutrition Assessment. http://www.caring.com/
articles/nutrition-assessment

Nora de Cárdenas, J.D., is a Managing Director & Co-Owner of Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties.  Visiting Angels provides non-medical homecare to seniors, the convalescing, the disabled and to those adults who are simply in need of occasional help. Their “Angels” help make it possible for seniors to “age in place”… safely and comfortably. Visiting Angels’ services also allow families to spend more mutually rewarding and meaningful time with loved ones and provide peace of mind to those who face the challenges of long-distance caregiving.