Malnutrition in the elderly is common and has serious implications such as general poor health, prolonged hospital stay and poor wound healing.
To be fit and healthy, you need to have a balanced and nutritious diet. This is particularly important for older adults, who are more vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses. Dr Lim Si Ching, Senior Consultant, Geriatric Medicine from Changi General Hospital (CGH), a member of the SingHealth group, shares the common causes of malnutrition in the elderly.
Malnutrition – which can be overnutrition or undernutrition – is common among the elderly. It has serious implications such as general poor health, increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, poor wound healing and pressure sores. Therefore, early assessment of the nutritional status among older people is important to identify those who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, in order to prevent a further decline in weight, physical function and quality of life.
Undernutrition happens when caloric intake is less than the daily requirement, with deficiencies of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and trace elements), resulting in overall weight loss, muscle loss and frailty.
Among the elderly, the prevalence of undernutrition varies between 15 per cent of community-dwelling elderly and 85 per cent among those in a nursing home.
Causes of undernutrition in the elderly
Social factors
Medical reasons
How to identify undernutrition in the elderly
Look out for any of these warning signs:
Common symptoms of undernutrition include:
Read on to learn about essential nutrients the elderly need for a balanced diet.
Ref: N18
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