Malnutrition

The elderly are particularly at risk for malnutrition, even living in a first world country. Poor nutrition has been linked to dementia, obesity, low energy levels and prolonged recovery from illness. As we age our body and brain become less resilient to fluctuating blood sugar levels, while our bones and organs become less efficient at coping with a poor diet. All this contributes to a need for a consistently healthy and nutritious eating plan as we age.

Too tired to cook
Decreased motivation and depression commonly affect elderly people who live alone, especially when families are very busy and can’t visit very often. This along with lethargy provides next to no motivation to create a healthy meal and unfortunately often leads to a reliance on tinned meals, frozen meals, quick carbohydrate rich meals with fewer components of the fruit and vegetable variety. As time goes on, the body and brain suffer. Low energy and lethargy traps us in a vicious circle. It can be addressed in an easy way so that the quality of life which should be enjoyed in this day and age is possible. If you don’t want to have dementia or you want to help prevent it in your aging parents, this is a supreme motivator to engage in new behaviours or shopping habits that support good nutritional intake.

But I take vitamins
Vitamins are an expensive way to replace a nutritious diet. They are not a complete answer and can add to the vicious circle of taking the easiest option while somehow the tiredness still continues. A variety of natural and fresh foods allows for the assimilation of multiple requirements while still providing fibre and fluid. The digestive process begins in the mouth when we chew. Amylase is a released in the saliva and starts the breakdown of the components of our food, which is why it is also a good idea to eat slowly, chewing your food properly. Popping a capsule with a swig of water is not the same thing.

Getting fresh food into the house
Elderly people may have trouble getting to the shops, their mobility is sometimes hampered by arthritis and carrying heavy bags aggravates wrist and arm issues. This can be alleviated by family helping out, but there are other options available in the community. The food most likely to be consumed by someone tired, lonely or depressed is the easy food. So why not make the easy food nutritious and available in an easy way. There are several alternatives to consider.

Fresh Food Home Delivered
Recently Meg met the owner, Victoria Braithwaite of a new home delivery company called ‘The Family Cook’
This is very timely for our blog on nutrition to support the elderly at home, because they provide fresh, locally sourced ingredients in delicious meals which are easy to order and meet the requirements of a consistently healthy diet. The meals change regularly, are of restaurant standard and are very reasonably priced. Bringing the food right to the door, it’s also nice to have someone to look forward to for a quick hello.
If you are curious, have a look at their website: thefamilycook.com.au or you can even call the Cook on 0410 616 481 to see if this is a good fit for you or your family.

Solutions for improving nutrition
Tiredness and poor eating should always be investigated by the family doctor to check for other causes. Low thyroid function or problems with gums and teeth may be reversible causes. Depression should be considered and investigated, and people living alone are most at risk. When all factors have been considered, look at a complete spring-clean of the kitchen and eating habits. What used to work before (full meal preparation) may not work anymore. Clear the cupboards of aging and rancid ingredients, and make the whole idea of eating freshly made meals from an outside source perfectly acceptable. I have a friend who only eats Lite and Easy now because she simply finds it suits her lifestyle and it relieved her of the pressure of cooking completely. It doesn’t have to be purely for weight loss. There are other organisations that provide for this ready made eating style. It is perfect for the elderly who are restricted in their options, and while we all know about Meals on Wheels, it is nice to know there are now several other organisations to consider.