Elder Care Tips: Signs Of Malnutrition In Seniors

You’ve probably seen the advertisements urging you to fight hunger and malnutrition in third world countries: large-eyed children with protruding ribs and bloated bellies. What you may not realize is that malnutrition is also a critical issue for the elderly population in the United States, as well. According to a report by Danielle Maher and Carol Eliadi EdD, JD, APRN in the RN Journal approximately 60 percent of hospitalized seniors suffer malnutrition, compared to five to ten percent of those living in a community setting such as private homes or assisted living facilities. The Mayo Clinic states there are specific signs of malnutrition you can look for if you suspect your elderly family member isn’t getting the proper nutrition:

• Loss of appetite


• Dry, dull hair


• Receding gums


• Dry eyes


• Loss of senses, such as taste and smell


• Weight loss


• Mental confusion


• Motor weakness


• Easy injured skin

• Depression, loneliness, and grief


• Medications, either alone or a combination of two or more


• Poor dental hygiene or ill-fitting dentures


• Health issues such as trouble swallowing, loss of taste or sense of smell


• Difficulty absorbing nutrients


• Alcoholism


• Dietary restrictions, such as low sodium or sugar diet requirements


• Chronic illness

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