Table of contents:
- A powerful way to overcome malnutrition in elderly people who have difficulty eating
- 1. Provide a balanced nutritious diet
- 2. Give healthy snacks
- 3. Give supplements after meals
- 4. Encourage moderate exercise
- 5. Create meals with other elderly people
As we get older, we will experience a decrease in appetite. However, if their nutritional needs are not maintained, the elderly are at risk of experiencing malnutrition which can endanger their health. So, is there a way to deal with malnutrition in the elderly? Check out the following information, let's go.
A powerful way to overcome malnutrition in elderly people who have difficulty eating
Even though the elderly tend to eat small portions, you should still accompany them when eating their meals. The reason is, malnutrition in the elderly who are allowed to continue can lead to organ dysfunction and increase the risk of death.
Here's how to deal with malnutrition in elderly people who have difficulty eating, namely:
1. Provide a balanced nutritious diet
The most important key to overcoming malnutrition in the elderly is to provide nutrient dense foods. Examples include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.
Limit the use of salt, sugar, and fats that are not good for the health of the elderly. Instead, substitute spices for salt and sugar to improve the taste of the food and increase the appetite of the elderly.
As a breakfast menu, try to give a piece of toasted whole wheat bread with peanut butter on top. Towards noon, serve a plate of warm white rice with his favorite vegetable soup so that his appetite increases.
2. Give healthy snacks
Don't forget to provide healthy snacks after your parents are done eating. This is useful to help meet the nutritional needs of the elderly if they previously had no appetite.
You can give him a banana or a glass of fruit juice as a healthy snack. In addition to overcoming malnutrition in the elderly, this method can also help make them fuller throughout the day.
3. Give supplements after meals
Help boost the appetite of the elderly by giving them nutritious supplements. Whether it's in tablet or powder form. But remember, first consult a doctor so that these supplements are in accordance with the health conditions of the elderly.
4. Encourage moderate exercise
Encourage your parents to do light exercise such as regular walking every morning, yoga, to aerobics. Apart from helping strengthen bones and muscles, exercise can also increase appetite in the elderly, you know.
Most importantly, adjust it according to the ability of your parents, yes. Make sure they feel comfortable and motivated to exercise regularly so that their body fitness is maintained.
5. Create meals with other elderly people
Elderly usually like to socialize with other people the same age as him. So, you can take this opportunity by organizing a meal for the elderly.
Apart from strengthening the relationship, this can help increase the appetite of the elderly, you know. The better the mood of the elderly, the easier it will be to eat the food served in front of them.
x
