• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Elder weight loss spells trouble

LTC Liability Monitor, June 15, 2005

Elders who lose their appetites are more likely to die within six months, a geriatric expert told the Associated Press (AP). Although weight loss is common among the elderly, it is not a natural part of aging. There are a variety of factors that can play a role in appetite loss among the elderly, including ill-fitting dentures that cause pain when eating, depression, and loss of the ability to see, smell, and taste food. In addition, people with dementia may forget to shop, or how to cook or even how to eat. New nursing home residents often suffer malnutrition and the condition can be difficult to reverse. Among the suggestions from a dietician: Add powdered milk to yogurt, cream cheese and even glasses of milk to increase calcium and Vitamin D intake, provide colorful fruits and vegetables that are cut up and easy to eat, as well as beans and casseroles, AP reported.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive