COMMUNITY
NUTRITION AND HYDRATION IN THE ELDERLY Nutrition plays a vital role in the health of older adults, yet one in seven 65-year-olds and over are estimated to be malnourished.3 The importance of good nutrition and hydration in our ageing population can’t be stressed enough. Here, we look at the challenges faced and consider positive interventions for improving nutritional status. The world’s population is ageing. By 2050, a quarter of Europeans are expected to be over the age of 65,1 and this age group already comprises 18% of the UK population.2 Many elderly people are failing to sufficiently meet their nutrient requirements through dietary intake, and an estimated 46% of those in long-term care facilities face current or impending dehydration.4 The need for ensuring adequate nutrition and hydration in the elderly is recognised by the World Health Organisation as an issue of paramount importance,5 particularly since the current COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated such problems. The UK’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey data reveals that older adults are consuming high amounts of free sugars and saturated fat, whilst daily average fruit and vegetable consumption is below the recommended five a day. Furthermore, this age group often fails to consume adequate amounts of oily fish, total energy, vitamin D, riboflavin, iron, B6 and B12.1,2 Inadequate intakes of various nutrients, coupled with the unique daily challenges that prevail as we age, highlight the need to promote healthy dietary habits among the elderly. THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION AND HYDRATION IN OLDER ADULTS
As we age, we are typically less mobile and muscle and bone mass decrease.
Kelly Fleetwood MSc ANutr
Subsequently, basal metabolic rate decreases. However, maintaining a nutrient-dense diet is still of critical importance. Adequate nutrition can prevent, modulate, or ameliorate many age-related diseases and conditions and, as such, adequate nutritional status can benefit the health and quality of life for older adults.6,7 Malnutrition is associated with longer hospital-stay duration, cognitive impairment, hypotension, infections and mortality, whilst prolonged malnutrition can cause further deterioration of nutritional status due to lack of interest in eating.6,8 Some nutrients are also particularly important for maintaining optimum functioning of the immune system, in which changes occur as we age.1 Furthermore, malnutrition has been associated with depression in older adults; suicide rates are twice as high amongst 80- to 84-year-olds than in the general population.9 Although older adults tend to be more vulnerable to underconsumption in institutional care, obesity is more prevalent in free-living older adults and can contribute to existing health conditions, such as being less mobile, sarcopenia and frailty.1,10 Additionally, dehydration can lead to functional impairment and dizziness and subsequently increased risk of falls,
Kelly is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and Brand Manager in the food industry. Alongside improving the nutritional profile of well-loved food brands, Kelly offers freelance consultancy, with specialist areas in nutrition for vulnerable groups, the gut microbiome and nutrigenomics. www.kellylightnutrition.co.uk kellyinthekitchen kitknutrition
REFERENCES Please visit: nhdmag.com/ references.html
www.NHDmag.com March 2021 - Issue 161
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