Malnourishment effects nearly 3.7 million elderly persons in the United States, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The reasons for this are many — from changing taste buds to dental problems to the physical demands of preparing meals. To help bring awareness to the issue, Dr. Lindsay Jones-Born, in conjunction with A Place for Mom, offers the following advice on combating senior malnourishment (via a recent article on Huffington Post).

Start with the basics

Check the food your loved one is eating (i.e., don’t be shy from raiding the fridge and rummaging through the pantry). Throw out any old food you may be suspect of. Other signs that your loved one’s diet lacks proper nutrition is unusual weight loss or weight gain and excessive bruises and wounds that take a long time to heal.

Offer help

Seniors struggling with malnourishment will benefit from education and encouragement, according to Dr. Jones-Born, helping to ensure each meal is packed with essential vitamins and nutrients.

• • Folic acid helps prevent heart disease and boosts red blood cell production. Foods that are rich in folic acid include spinach, asparagus and lentils. 

 

• • B12 helps synthesize protein and aids in mental function. Unfortunately, this process can become compromised with age. Consider adding a B12 supplement to your loved one’s diet or having plenty of foods like turkey, chicken, beef, eggs, milk and salmon in regular rotation on the menu.

 

• • Vitamins C and D are very important to the health of an aging body, so make sure your senior has at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (for the vitamin C) as well as foods rich in or fortified with vitamin D (oatmeal, egg yolk, sardines, etc.).

 

• • Essential fatty acids are key to reducing inflammation in the body. A good source is fish, which Dr. Jones-Born recommends seniors eat twice a week. Another rich source of essential fatty acids is flax seeds, which can easily be added to a number of dishes.

 

• • H2O is naturally the best way to keep your loved one hydrated. The article suggests seniors should have nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

 

Are there any other ways to help prevent senior malnourishment that we missed? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Encompass services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit http://www.encompass-home-health-care.com.”

As a person ages, it often becomes more difficult for them to maneuver through their home. The culprit may be stairs, excessive clutter, an outdated bathroom and/or kitchen, et al. There are basic home improvements that can enhance the quality of an elderly person’s life and allow them to live independently in their home for as long as possible. Below are some tips and ideas for keeping your loved one safe and comfortable in their own home.

• • Lever door handles and faucet handles that operate easily with a push

 

• • Adjustable closet rods

 

• • A night light in bedroom

 

• • No scatter rugs

 

• • Handrails on both sides of staircases and outside steps

 

• • Brighter staircase lighting

 

• • Large rocker light switches that turn on/off with a push

 

• • Electric outlets 27 inches above floor

 

• • Peephole or view panel in front door

 

• • Walk-in shower with grab bars and portable or adjustable shower seat

 

• • Hand-held adjustable shower head

 

• • Non-skid surface for both tub and shower floor

 

• • Grab bars by the toilet and tub

 

• • Tilting or full-length mirror in bathroom

 

• • Bathroom telephone that is reachable in case of a fall

 

• • Adjustable countertops or lower counter for work space in kitchen

 

• • Rounded kitchen counter tops

 

• • Sliding shelves in cupboards, lazy Susan in corner cabinet

 

• • First floor bedroom and bath allow living entirely on one level if necessary

 

General home safety tips for seniors

• • Consider a medical alert or a buddy system

 

• • Keep a fire extinguisher and smoke detector on every floor

 

• • Use extreme caution when smoking

 

• • Always get up slowly after sitting or lying down

 

• • Wear proper fitting shoes with low heels

 

• • Use a correctly measured walking aid

 

• • Remove scatter rugs and tack down all others

 

• • Remove electrical or telephone cords from traffic areas

 

• • Avoid using slippery wax on floors

 

• • Wipe up spills promptly

 

• • Avoid standing on ladders or chairs

 

• • Have sturdy rails for all stairs inside and outside the house

 

• • Use only non-glare 100 watt bulbs (or greater wattage)

 

• • Make sure that all staircases have good lighting with switches at top of bottom

 

• • Staircase steps should have a non-slip surface

 

Physicians Choice Private Duty “ currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa ” provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Encompass services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..”

With incontinence comes many distressing problems. Aside from the extreme embarrassment, it’s a sensitive subject for family caregivers and health care professionals to address. Even so, there are ways to safely manage incontinence. Keep in mind, appropriate treatment often requires a thorough medical evaluation and understanding of multiple factors at play.

The National Institute of Medicine offers a free paper that can give you and your loved one a better understanding of the various types of incontinence and its causes. Below are some tips on how to best manage your aging loved one’s incontinence.

Start an honest conversation

A positive step to take is to let your loved know that they don’t have to deal with the problem alone. Acknowledge the problem and let them know there are ways to treat incontinence. However, this may be difficult with a senior suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia or other cognitive difficulties.

“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..”

Although it’s uncommon, Alzheimer’s can strike people younger than 65. According to Glenn Smith, a neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic, only five percent of people who have Alzheimer’s disease develop early onset symptoms. This can be a scary thought for people in their 40s or 50s, supposedly in the prime of their lives.

For a real-life example of this, the Omaha World-Herald just published a profile about a husband and wife who faced Alzheimer’s together. The story really tugs at the heart strings as well as sheds light on how early-onset Alzheimer’s is especially taxing for those suffering from it and for their families. One of the biggest concerns, the article points out, is the difficulty in finding caregivers and appropriate help, as many services are typically catered to elderly people. Not to mention that the spouse is likely to still be in the middle of a career.

The article tells the story of Liz (the wife), who was diagnosed with early onset at the age of 57. She and her husband, Terry, decided to do whatever it might take to keep her dignity and to enjoy being husband and wife for as long as possible. Over the years, Liz’s symptoms gradually worsened as Terry took on more and more caregiving responsibilities. As sad as it may be, Alzheimer’s is a disease with no cure, and thus it eventually claimed Liz’s life. However, while Liz was still able, the couple remained active — joining Alzheimer’s support groups, traveling to Washington D.C. to share Liz’s story with Nebraska lawmakers, even embarking on a dream vacation to Egypt and Israel.

Related: Alzheimer’s patients giving thanks

Although rare, Liz and Terry’s story is similar to many others who must take on the burden of early-onset Alzheimer’s. But with the help and support of the ones you love, there couldn’t be any better way to share the load.

Do you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia? Share some of your stories about the journey with us in the comments or on Twitter.

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Encompass services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit http://www.encompass-home-health-care.com.”