1. As saliva production decreases, so does the ability to make stomach acid that easily digests our food. Dietary changes may be needed to ensure that nutrients are still being processed.

2. Senses deteriorate with age, including the ability to taste and smell. This can mean overuse of salt and sugar in some diets since the flavors are not as easily detected. Too much salt and sugar can lead to other health problems such as type 2 diabetes.

3. It’s important to keep a stable body weight and not over or under eat. If the caloric intake is not adjusted for the decreased physical activity, then people easily put on weight and this can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses. Not eating enough can lead to osteoporosis, memory loss and other conditions.

4. Eating alone can be depressing for some people, so they might often forgo preparing or eating meals for one.

5. Many medications can affect appetite and taste for certain foods. Always check with a medical professional to see if medicine may be affecting your diet.

Proper Hydration

Fluids help nutrients flow through the body and do their job. Hydration is an essential part of a healthy diet, and Dr. Remig points out that many older adults have a “decreased thirst mechanism” and may not realize that they are thirsty. In home caregivers, individuals and caregiver agencies should remind seniors to drink plenty of water with meals and throughout the day.

Proper Nutrition

Specific nutritional needs evolve as bodies age. For example, although 85-percent of adult bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, older adults need more calcium and Vitamin D in their diets to maintain healthy bones.

A healthy diet should include protein from eggs, dairy, fish, meats and poultry; whole grains and other carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables; fiber; healthy fats that are found in fish, oil, nuts and foods fortified with omega-3 fatty acids.

Nutritional and Dietary Support

Many of the challenges to maintaining good nutritional habits for the elderly can be finding the right in home caregiver or caregiver agency to help with buying groceries and delivering groceries and meals.

“Being able to drive to the supermarket, to afford groceries every week, and having an appetite are the biggest challenges for the elderly population,” said Elizabeth Tscholl, a registered dietician at Cherry Creek Nutrition in Denver.

Other obstacles to a healthy diet for seniors can include illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. “People with Alzheimer’s forget what their favorite foods are, that it’s time to eat, and tend to like really sweet foods,” said Ms. Tscholl. Often the only way to get them to eat is to sweeten up foods, such as adding honey or brown sugar to a bowl or oatmeal with fruit and low-fat milk.

For additional information about nutritional guidelines, visit the American Dietetic Association’s website at www.eatright.org.

Malnutrition and the Elderly

Some studies estimate 5-10% of elderly people living in a “community setting” are malnourished; about 60% of hospitalized older adults and anywhere from 35 to 85% in long-term care facilities are experiencing malnutrition. With people age 65 years and older now the largest population segment, these numbers are likely to increase. To help, the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition sponsors Malnutrition Awareness Week, Sept. 26-30, with two days devoted to discussing the topic of malnutrition in older adults.

“Despite increasing awareness of malnutrition and its effects, one in three patients continue to be malnourished with an annual cost of $156.7 billion for disease-related malnutrition in the U.S.,” the organization explains on their website. “Malnutrition is not just contained within the parameters of the hospital or in a certain population. It is also becoming a leading cause of hospital re-admissions for the aging individual.”

During this week, there are webinars about nutrition, including two days devoted to malnutrition in the older adult population.

Malnutrition: What & Why

Basically malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a person’s body does not get enough nutrients. When it comes to seniors, malnutrition is not as simple as eating enough calories or the right kinds of foods.

Older adults are more likely to have underlying medical conditions, such as dementia, that can lead to physical difficulties with eating. The senses can become diminished—eyesight, taste, smell—and decrease appetite or ability to feed one’s self. Medications can also play a role in appetite or how the body absorbs nutrients. According to the Mayo Clinic, other factors can also contribute to malnutrition:

· Restricted diets, such as a low-salt diet or low sugar diet, might alleviate one medical condition while decreasing nutritional intake.

· Living on a limited income might affect how much food someone buys and therefore lead to not getting enough nourishment.

· Loneliness can cause a person to stop eating when they are alone and cannot enjoy cooking or eating a meal with loved ones. When someone is depressed, it can also make them lose interest in food.

· Dental hygiene issues that cause pain when chewing.