Malnutrition. Can you guess how malnutrition paired with dementia can affect seniors negatively?
While many know some of the symptoms caused by dementia, such as memory loss and irritability, few know that dementia also causes loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing. This ultimately leads to a major problem in the older adult population: Malnutrition.
Dementia is a general term that describes a chronic disorder of the mental processes by brain disease or injury that interferes with daily life. Caregivers who deal with dementia need to be informed and trained in how it can affect seniors and how they can prevent elderly nutrition.
Effects of Malnutrition in Elderly
A malnourished older adult with dementia can start experiencing anxiety and depression. These symptoms lead to malnourishment. Estimates show that by 2030 over 20% of people ages 65 and older will have dementia. Therefore, understanding how to prevent malnourishment among older adults with dementia is vital.
Factors Causing Malnutrition
Several factors contribute to malnutrition, so caregivers must focus on these factors to prevent malnourishment in the elderly. One of the critical factors is loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can result from side effects of medication, lack of exercise, difficulty swallowing, or disgust for certain types of food.
Medication side effects are particularly difficult to combat, but consulting with a doctor to discuss options can help. On the other hand, simple and easy exercises such as a daily walk or indoor chair exercises can increase appetite. A caregiver should make gentle touches to a senior’s throat during mealtimes or give verbal reminders to help an older adult swallow. Furthermore, understanding a senior’s culinary likes and dislikes is crucial. Preparing an older adult’s favorite meals can drastically increase a senior’s desire to eat. We suggest discussing it with the senior and their family. Take notes as not to forget any details (for example, some might like food a little more seasoned than others who might like food blander)
Malnutrition, Dementia, and Senses
One factor that is often difficult to overcome that results in malnutrition is loss of the senses. Loss of senses leads to misjudgment of temperature, loss of smell, loss of taste, and even the loss of spatial recognition. Misjudgment of temperature can lead to severe burns. Therefore, checking the temperature of all hot food is essential.
The loss of smell and taste can severely eliminate the incentive to eat. Eating food that is tasteless leads to loss of appetite, which leads to malnourishment. This challenge is difficult to overcome because caregivers can be unaware this is the root of the loss of appetite. A caregiver must communicate well to learn the symptoms an older adult is experiencing. Once a caregiver knows the senior is losing taste and smell, they can begin identifying what foods an older adult can and cannot taste and prepare more foods they enjoy.
The loss of spatial recognition is confusing for older adults who cannot distinguish the food from the plate, making it difficult to eat. To alleviate this confusion, caregivers should use white plates which contrast with the colors of the food.
Risk Factors of Malnutrition in Elderly
In conclusion, malnutrition is common amongst dementia patients due to the difficulty of eating, the seemingly tasteless food, and the loss of appetite. Helping a senior eat the necessary nutrition requires thoughtful attention to detail to help solve the root of the problems.
Nutrition is essential to life. Therefore one must take active measures to ensure senior’s with dementia stay as healthy as possible.
