Working Caregiver- Caregiver Articles
10 Warning Signs of Aging Relatives Eating Right
Are your Aging Relatives Eating Properly?
Healthy aging and good nutrition is the first line of helpful defense in keeping Dallas seniors strong, in good health and independent, according to a local senior-care expert, Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks of Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas. The importance of healthy aging depending upon good nutrition and eating habitsis confirmed by a recent study of older adults.
The research conducted for the local home caregiving company in Dallas, Home Instead Senior Care, 62 percent of adult children who are family caregivers (average age 81) reported three or more nutritional risks in their aging relative such as:
1. Three or more prescribed or over-the-counter drugs per day.
2. An illness or condition that made the senior change his or her diet.
3. Having lost or gained more than 10 pounds in the past six months without trying.
"We see Dallas elderly each day of the week whose health is impacted by multiple medications and illnesses," said Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Dallas, Texas. "That makes healthy foods, meals and good nutritioon an important tool in keeping our seniors to stand firm against the ravages of aging."
The importance of nutrition to healthy aging is why Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas has helped their corporate office launch the Cooking Under Pressure nutrition campaign to provide education and support to Dallas seniors and their family members who are sometimes stressed-out by the demands of caregiving. Partnering with nutrition experts at the University of Maryland and Duke University Medical Center, the company has developed a handbook of nutrition tips as well as healthy recipes for seniors. The handbook is available free through our local Dallas Home Instead Senior Care office. The following Web site at www.foodsforseniors.comprovides more research and resources for families and seniors.
Statistics show that seniors can use the help. According to Home Instead Senior Care research, family caregivers report that 72 percent of seniors rely on assistance to get groceries while 57 percent of seniors rarely cook for themselves.2
"Inability to shop and cook can be major challenges for older adults eating healthy, especially among those recently discharged from the hospital," said Dr. Nadine Sahyoun, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources who has extensively studied the impact of issues such as dental health, social support and depression on seniors' diets.
"Without good nutrition, health can deteriorate very quickly, making seniors more susceptible to disease and infection," Dr. Sahyoun said. "And without intervention, malnutrition can result in a downward trajectory leading to poor health and mortality," she noted.
These resources provide family caregivers with the tools and information that will help equip their aging relatives to stay strong and healthy," Home Instead Senior Care's Oppenheimer-Marks said. "What's great now is that this help for family caregiverscan stop a crisis by tuning into the early signs of trouble by knowing the foods and the habits that can help keep their loved ones healthy."
These 10 warning signs are red flags that may signal a potential problem:
1. Loss of appetite. If your senior has always been a hearty eater but no longer eats as he or she used to, it's time to find out why. Underlying illness could be the root cause.
2. Little to no interest in eating out. If your loved one has always loved eating out at a favorite restaurant but no longer shows interest, dig deeper to determine the problem.
3. Depression. Change in appetite is a classic sign of depression. Be sure to follow up with a physician if you suspect depression may be a problem.
4. Sudden weight fluctuation. A weight change - losing or gaining 10 pounds in six months - is another sign that something could be amiss.
5. Expired or spoiled food. Check the refrigerator for expired or spoiled food. Seniors could be "saving" food until it"s no longer safe. Make sure that all food is labeled, with the date, in large letters and numbers.
6. Skin tone. Observe your senior's skin tone. If your loved one is eating properly, the skin should look healthy and well-hydrated.
7. Lethargy. If your older adult has regularly been active and enjoyed taking walks, but suddenly becomes lethargic, encourage a visit to the doctor. Poor nutrition in seniors could be to blame.
8. Cognitive problems. Seniors who live alone might forget to eat. Dementia and cognitive problems can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Quick intervention is vital.
9. More than three medications. Medication can influence both appetite and weight. Check with your senior's doctor to find out if medications could be the culprit.
10. A recent illness. Illness or a hospital stay could make a senior stop eating. Keep tabs on your loved one's recovery, making sure reliable senior help at homeis available.
| 
