Cooking Under Pressure

When it comes to healthy aging, good nutrition is the first line of defense in keeping seniors strong and independent.

62 percent of adult children caring for an older adult (average age 81) reported three or more nutritional risks in their senior such as:

• Three or more prescribed or over-the-counter drugs per day.
• An illness or condition that made the senior change his or her diet.
• Having lost or gained more than 10 pounds in the past six months without trying.1

The importance of nutrition to healthy aging is why Home Instead Senior Care has launched the Cooking Under Pressure nutrition campaign to provide education and support to seniors and their family members who are sometimes stressed-out by the demands of caregiving. Partnering with nutrition experts at the University of Maryland and Duke University Medical Center, the company has developed a handbook of nutrition tips as well as healthy recipes for seniors. A Web site at http://www.foodsforseniors.com/ provides additional information, research and resources.

Statistics indicate that seniors can use the help. Family caregivers report that 72 percent of seniors rely on assistance to get groceries while 57 percent of seniors rarely cook for themselves.2

“Inability to shop and cook can be major challenges to eating healthy, especially among recently hospital-discharged older adults,” said Dr. Nadine Sahyoun, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources who has extensively studied the impact of issues such as dental health, social support and depression on seniors’ diets.

Research by Dr. Sahyoun of hospital-discharged older adults who qualify for home-delivered meals showed that 80 percent of those individuals who were recruited in the study had food in their kitchens, but they were unable to shop or utilize that food for cooking. “There are many other challenges to eating well and these include loss of appetite, memory problems, dental health and use of certain medications,” she added

“Without good nutrition, health can deteriorate very quickly, making seniors more susceptible to disease and infection,” Dr. Sahyoun said. “And without intervention, malnutrition can result in a downward trajectory leading to poor health and mortality,” she noted. A recent Yale University School of Nursing study – she explained – called malnutrition in the elderly “an ominous sign.”

Social support and assistance in shopping and preparing meals are the vital ingredients needed to make a positive difference in many seniors’ lives. That can be help from a family or professional caregiver, taking part in a congregate meal program – such as those at a senior center – or receiving meals on wheels. In addition, seniors and their family caregivers need knowledge in selecting food rich in nutrients, she noted.

"Older adults require less food as they age and they can’t eat as much, but their needs for vitamins and minerals don’t decrease and in some cases even increase," she said. That’s where the Home Instead Senior Care campaign can help. The company and national nutrition experts have identified 12 nutritious foods, recipes that feature those foods as well as other resources that can help give caregivers the support they need.

These resources really should provide family caregivers with the tools and information that will help equip their senior to stay strong and healthy. The good news is that family caregivers can head off a crisis by tuning into the early signs of trouble and knowing the foods and the habits that can help keep their loved ones healthy.

The 10 Warning Signs That Older Adults are Not Eating Properly

So how do you know if your senior’s diet fits the bill? These 10 warning signs are red flags that may signal a potential problem:

1. Loss of appetite. If your senior has always been a hearty eater but no longer eats as he or she used to, it’s time to find out why. Underlying illness could be the root cause.
2. Little to no interest in eating out. If your loved one has always loved eating out at a favorite restaurant but no longer shows interest, dig deeper to determine the problem.
3. Depression. Change in appetite is a classic sign of depression. Be sure to follow up with a physician if you suspect depression may be a problem.
4. Sudden weight fluctuation. A weight change – losing or gaining 10 pounds in six months – is another sign that something could be amiss.
5. Expired or spoiled food. Check the refrigerator for expired or spoiled food. Seniors could be “saving” food until it’s no longer safe. Make sure that all food is labeled, with the date, in large letters and numbers.
6. Skin tone. Observe your senior’s skin tone. If your loved one is eating properly, the skin should look healthy and well-hydrated.
7. Lethargy. If your older adult has regularly been active and enjoyed taking walks, but suddenly becomes lethargic, encourage a visit to the doctor. Poor nutrition could be to blame.
8. Cognitive problems. Seniors who live alone might forget to eat. Dementia and cognitive problems can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Quick intervention is vital.
9. More than three medications. Medication can influence both appetite and weight. Check with your senior’s doctor to find out if medications could be the culprit.
10. A recent illness. Illness or a hospital stay could make a senior stop eating. Keep tabs on your loved one’s recovery, making sure reliable help at home is available.
    
    1,2. The Boomer Project (http://www.boomerproject.com/) completed online interviews with 1,279 U.S. adult caregivers, ages 35-62, with a parent, stepparent or older relative for whom they or someone in their household provides care. Questions regarding nutritional risk factors and stress adapted from Abbott Laboratories' "Determine Your Nutritional Health" checklist. Used with the permission of Abbott Laboratories, copyright 2008.