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Nutrition for the elderly

The eating habits of the elderly require particular care and attention

The elderly are amongst the most malnourished sections of the population. It is astonishing to note that wealth has very little to do with this.

Malnourishment in the elderly depends on physical, emotional and social factors, and the resulting frailty and ill health set up a vicious cycle of further malnourishment and health problems. Many elderly get by on nutrition-poor meals— too much tea, rice and pickles and too little protein. Most caretakers of the elderly give up in exasperation after trying unsuccessfully to improve the quality and quantity of their food intake. But it is worth persisting, as the benefits of good nutrition may add years of good quality life. So how does one get the elderly to eat better and eat more?

Treat the cause of all that fussy eating. Anorexia among the elderly is not `normal.' If grandpa is not eating well, chances are he is depressed, has difficulty chewing with dentures, has a dry mouth caused by all those pills he is taking for chronic ailments, and has a diminished sense of smell and taste - worsened by drugs. Dementia, limited income and the absence of caretakers diminish the ability to plan, prepare and eat healthful food. A recent illness can exacerbate the mater by setting up a habit of eating too little.

Preventing and treating malnutrition in the elderly requires tact, care and commonsense. Make food nutrition-dense. For example, add fruits and nuts to milkshakes. Add extra egg whites to curries and omelettes. Add glucose to coconut water and fruit juices. Use strong and sharp flavours.

Jaded taste buds and a muted sense of smell need a jolt to start working up an appetite. Maybe this is why pickles are such a strong favourite with the elderly. Keep teeth and dentures in good repair.

Find out what they are comfortable with: Some prefer mashed foods, while others prefer soups. Work with what they want and try to make that more nutritious. Review with doctors the medications that might be causing loss of appetite. Consider nutrition supplements, but use them only with a doctor's approval.

Encourage exercise: It perks up the appetite and also relieves depression.

RAJIV. M

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