COVID-19: Examining the Causes of Malnutrition in Seniors

With the limitations and restrictions put on seniors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health and diet may not be their number one concern right now. Seniors may be more focused on staying indoors and minimizing their exposure to the outside world.

However, a poor diet can often result to a decrease in immunity, which may put seniors more at risk of illness and disease.

Some health issues that can be linked to malnutrition are:

– Chronic fatigue
– Loss of bone density
– Slow-healing wounds
– Increased risk of falls

Knowing what puts your senior at risk of poor health and malnutrition will help you prevent them from experiencing it.

According to Mayo Clinic, there are three main factors that contribute to senior malnutrition. These are:

1.Physical Factors

Physical factors that can derail senior health and nutrition may come in the form of poorly fitting dentures that make chewing uncomfortable and painful or weakness and fatigue in trying to prepare their own meals.

2.Social Factors

Meals are often a social occasion. However, with today’s limitations, most seniors are stuck at home eating alone. Aside from the feelings of loneliness one might feel, cooking for one might prove to be a challenge, thus seniors might resort to ordering fast food online. Fast food tend to be low in nutritional content, and high in sodium and trans fats.

3.Psychological Factors

Is your loved one feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or lonely? All these can affect the way they eat and the way they go about living their lives.

In these uncertain and tragic times, it’s important to keep our loved ones close.

Lowenhill Home Care Services is here to provide your senior with the best loving assistance, to help them cope with society’s current situation, while still living strong, healthy, and independent lives.