Role of Nutrition & Health in the Elderly

As the population of elderly people rises, and the costs associated with medical care rise, the role nutrition plays in remaining healthy as a person ages is being shown to be more important than was earlier thought. Many factors contribute to the level of nutrition a person receives. Elderly people are often sedentary, home-bound, chronically ill, taking medications. These and other elements in their lifestyle affect the way their bodies utilize and metabolize their food. These and other factors affect how, when, where, and how much they eat. Malnutrition in the form of over or under eating is one of the most pervasive and potentially debilitating problems experienced by the elderly of the United States (Murphy, Everett, & Dresser, 1992, p. 184). Caloric intake in the United States tends to decrease with age. The risk of the elderly consuming too few nutrients in their diet is real.

The diets of the elderly vary across the spectrum from good to bad. Some generalizations are possible. In large group studies, it has been shown that the consumption of several nutrients is below the recommended levels. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6 were among the first nutrients in which deficiencies were discovered in the elderly population (Murphy, Everett & Dresser, 1992, p. 185). Further studies of longer terms have included zinc and copper in the category of nutrients of which the elderly do not consume enough (Murphy, Everett & Dresser, 1992, p. 185).

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onald, Cyr, and Boutier, over 50 percent of the population did not consume the recommended levels of protein of 0.8g/kg for healthy people. The amount of protein needed by the elderly may be higher than this recommended level for long term nitrogen levels in the body to be maintained (Payette, Gray-Donald, Cyr & Boutier, 1995, p. 681). Chronic illness and demonstrated low energy intake levels further increase the level of protein required above that which has been established for healthy elderly individuals. This same study found a decrease in the total level of food intakes and in the level of protein consumed when the individual has a vision loss (Payette, Gray-Donald, Cyr & Boutier, 1995, p. 681). This finding is of enormous importance in that 1 out of 5 individuals 75 years or older has a visual deficiency (Payette, Gray-Donald, Cyr & Boutier, 1995, p. 681). The relationship between vision and a lower intake of protein and nutrients is independent of other medical conditions. Vision loss and a decrease in activities has been noted in nursing home residents. Vitamin D deficiency has been found in significant numbers of home-bound elderly living in the community without other medical conditions (Gloth & Tobin, 1995, p.

Category: Medical - R