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Abbott Nutrition Careline 1800-88-6233 Mondays-Fridays 9am-6pm 
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Nutrition for Healthy Aging
Understanding Senior Malnutrition
Eating well can become difficult for seniors when age-related health conditions and medical treatments affect appetite, chewing, swallowing and digestion. Identifying and treating malnutrition early is crucial to your loved one’s health and well-being. In addition to making sure proper nutrition is available, keep an eye out for signs of poor nutrition and discuss any concerns with doctors and other healthcare providers.
Signs of Malnutrition
Malnutrition is often hidden, especially in those who seem not to be at risk. While weight loss can be an obvious indicator, malnutrition can occur in overweight seniors, too. So it is important to:
Eating well can become difficult for seniors when age-related health conditions and medical treatments affect appetite, chewing, swallowing and digestion. Identifying and treating malnutrition early is crucial to your loved one’s health and well-being. In addition to making sure proper nutrition is available, keep an eye out for signs of poor nutrition and discuss any concerns with doctors and other healthcare providers.
Signs of Malnutrition
Malnutrition is often hidden, especially in those who seem not to be at risk. While weight loss can be an obvious indicator, malnutrition can occur in overweight seniors, too. So it is important to:
- Ask them about their eating habits. Don't rely on self-reports alone, spend time together at mealtimes and make sure you know who is buying the food (request a nutrition screen and assessment from a doctor or dietitian if you are concerned about weight loss)
- Look for physical problems such as poor wound healing, easy bruising and dental difficulties (you should keep track of weight loss but keep in mind malnutrition can occur in overweight seniors, too)
- Know what medications they are taking, how are the medications affecting their appetite and digestion (as some can reduce appetite or prevent nutrient absorption) and if they are taking the medications correctly
- Ask the doctor to check protein levels (serum albumin, prealbumin or retinol binding protein levels) since these tests can often help identify if your loved one is suffering from malnutrition.
Tips for Increasing Appetite
Small diet changes can make a big impact on your loved one’s health and well-being:
Small diet changes can make a big impact on your loved one’s health and well-being:
- Enrich diets by adding peanut or other nuts to fruits and vegetables, nuts or wheat germ to yogurt or cereal, extra egg whites to scrambled eggs, and melting cheese on sandwiches, vegetables, soups, rice and noodles
- Restore life by blending food with lemon juice, herbs and spices and by varying the texture, color and temperature of foods
- Plan between-meal snacks (perfect for those who get full too quickly) like a piece of fruit or cheese, a spoonful of peanut butter, even a milkshake for those who are not lactose intolerant
- Try Ensure as the supplementation in their daily diet.
- Talk to doctors about changing medications that affect appetite and nutritional status
- Make meals social events since older people do better when they have company (stop by at mealtime or suggest lunch or dinner out on a regular basis)
- Encourage regular exercise to stimulate appetite, help depression, strengthen bones and muscles and provide social interaction.
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Ensuring good nutrition with ENSURE® FOS
Delicious, convenient and complete nutrition in a glass, Ensure® FOS is ideal for people who want more valuable nutrients in their diet. > Find out more |
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Supplement your diet accordingly with this chart which shows you the recommended serving size of Ensure based on your daily food intake. |
