Senior Nutrition

Friendly Visitors help fight hunger in senior populations in Brantford & Cambridge, ON

Did you know that there is an increasingly high number of seniors that are going hungry? The World Health Organization states that with a growing senior population, the amount of those who are at risk of malnutrition is rising. Thanks to the awareness of this issue, Comfort Keeper friendly visitors are doing their part to ensure that fewer of our elderly go hungry! If you have an aging loved one in your life and are worried about their eating habits or access to healthy food options or senior nutrition, there are a few things that you can do as well.

Make Nutrition for Seniors a Priority

Comfort Keepers is committed to seniors being able to live a healthy and independent life. We proudly support nutrition in the elder population through the Nourish Senior Life® initiative. Together, with family caregivers and professional friendly visitors as well, we can make a difference by providing healthy options that will help aging bodies get the nutrients that they need.

Recognize the Signs of Malnutrition

Seniors can become malnourished by not eating enough, but also from eating the wrong kinds of foods. Malnutrition is when the body does not get the right kinds of nutrients to take care of itself. Some of the common symptoms can include:

• Poor healing of the skin or gums
• Quick and easy bruising
• Headaches, weakness or lethargy
• Losing weight / Inability to gain weight
• Rapid decline in health
• Poor response to age-related illnesses
• Increased pain in the muscles and bones

Be Aware of the Health and Eating Habits of the Senior in Your Life

One of the best things that you can do to support the diet and overall wellness of a beloved elder in your life is to simply be aware. Thus pay attention to what they eat and their general eating habits. Encourage family or friends to engage in mealtimes to be sure that they are eating. Also understand that medications may cause interference with nutritional intake. Also find ways to replace mineral or nutrient deficiencies caused by this. Finally, if there are any concerns, seek out medical support by talking to your elder’s primary care provider and see if they can provide assistance.

Just keep in mind, you are not in this alone! By being mindful of the nutrition in their lives, we can also take aim at keeping them healthier. Friendly visitors aren’t the only ones that can help. Do your part and fight elder hunger from the start by recognizing the signs of malnutrition, and then providing solutions for the ones you love.