If your aging family member isn’t getting the nutrients that she needs in her diet, then her overall health is suffering. These are just a few of the big reasons for you to focus on nutrition right away.
Weakness and General Fatigue Are a Big Problem
Food is fuel and when your elderly family member’s body doesn’t have the fuel it needs, it gets tired more easily. She might also mention that she feels weaker than usual or that she just doesn’t have any energy. Rest may help temporarily and having a nutritious meal can help temporarily, but the underlying issue has to be addressed.
Muscle Tone Decreases
As your senior feels weaker, her body’s muscle tone is also likely to decrease. Because she’s losing muscle gradually, she’s going to feel weaker and weaker. That’s all a problem because it sets up a dangerous slide into even worse health for your elderly family member.
Depression Can Set In
Depression can start to be a problem for your aging adult because her quality of life is seriously declining and she may have more than a few things she can’t do any longer. All of this adds up and everything just becomes that much more difficult. Treating the poor nutrition can help her to feel better and resolve the depression.
Her Immune System Weakens
Your senior’s body doesn’t just get weaker physically, it also isn’t able to keep itself as healthy as it was. The weaker her immune system is, the more danger she’s in of experiencing illnesses that she could have avoided otherwise. She may also find that if she gets a cut or other small wound, it takes longer for those to heal than it did in the past.
Cognition Changes
Your elderly family member’s brain suffers from lack of proper nutrition, too. It becomes more difficult for your senior to make decisions and to solve problems. That can make daily life more complicated than it needs to be. This can also contribute to depression and leave her worrying that she’s going to lose her independence.
Work with your elderly family member’s doctor to determine what she needs in terms of nutrition. Make cooking and grocery shopping easier by hiring elder care providers to take over those tasks for her. When it’s as easy to get the daily nutrition she needs as sitting down to a delicious meal, your elderly family member will be more likely to do just that.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF SUMMERLIN. 702-800-4616.