Malnutrition is something that many seniors who are aging in place struggle with. Even when seniors are eating daily if they aren’t eating healthy meals they can still be malnourished. If you notice that your senior parent looks thinner, or doesn’t seem to be thriving even though you know they are eating, the problem could be that they’re not getting the nutrition they need.

In-home care can help seniors who are malnourished by making sure that they are eating the right portions of healthy foods. With an in-home care provider monitoring their meals, helping them cook, and prepping meals and snacks for when your senior parent is alone there is a much better chance that your senior parent will not be malnourished.

Some of the reasons why seniors become malnourished include:

Physical Limitations

Physical limitations associated with aging, such as decreased mobility, muscle weakness, and joint pain, can significantly impact seniors’ ability to shop for groceries, prepare meals, and eat independently.

As a result, seniors may struggle to access and consume a balanced diet, leading to inadequate nutrient intake and malnutrition. With in-home care, seniors will have the support they need to shop for healthy food, cook healthy meals, and clean up after cooking.

Cognitive Decline

Seniors with cognitive impairment, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, may experience difficulties with meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. Memory loss, confusion, and disorientation can impair their ability to follow recipes, recognize hunger cues, or remember to eat regular meals.

Additionally, changes in taste perception or appetite due to cognitive decline may contribute to reduced food intake and malnutrition among seniors living at home. With in-home care, seniors will have an experienced care provider making sure that their meals are nutritious and that they are eating regularly.

Not Wanting to Eat Meals

As seniors get older their eating patterns shift along with how much they eat. It’s possible that your senior parent isn’t eating enough because they don’t have the appetite to eat three meals a day anymore. It’s very common for seniors to prefer to “graze” throughout the day or eat small snacks at regular intervals. An in-home care provider can accommodate your senior parent’s changing taste by making sure they have prepared snacks that include vegetables, proteins, and healthy carbs like wheat crackers. Your senior parent can eat small and still get the nutrition they need.

Dental Problems

Oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, or ill-fitting dentures, can significantly impact seniors’ ability to chew, swallow, and digest food properly. Pain or discomfort while eating may discourage seniors from consuming certain foods or eating a well-balanced diet, increasing their risk of malnutrition. Poor oral hygiene practices and inadequate dental care can exacerbate dental problems and contribute to malnutrition among seniors living at home.

An in-home care provider can help your senior parent get to regular dental appointments, clean their dentures, and make foods for them that they can comfortably eat like smoothies, soups, and soft meals.

Medication Side Effects

Many seniors take multiple medications to manage chronic health conditions, and some medications may have side effects that affect appetite, taste perception, or nutrient absorption. Common side effects of medications, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, can interfere with seniors’ ability to eat regular meals and obtain essential nutrients from food.

If your senior parent is avoiding meals because of the side effects of medication in-home care providers can make sure your senior parent gets to doctor’s appointments and has food in the house that can tempt them to eat.

If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care in Spring Branch, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, and Sugar Land, and the surrounding areas.

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Sid Gerber

Founding Partner at S. Gerber and Associates & Personal Caregiving Services

Sid Gerber is a founding partner of S. Gerber & Associates, a firm representing over 28 years of experience specializing in a broad range of long term care products and services including but not limited to care assessment, planning and management, care coordination, in-home caregiving services, quality assurance monitoring, and the securing of financial independence and asset protection utilizing insurance products from major carriers to pay for long-term care. Mr. Gerber helps family members make difficult long-term care decisions and provides them with the necessary education and resources to plan and manage their long-term health care and financial needs.

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