According to a study published in Nutrients, malnutrition affects an estimated 10% to 30% of Western adults 60 and older. Malnutrition can be a deficiency, excess, or imbalance in dietary and nutritional intake. Left unaddressed, it can lead to adverse health outcomes and lower quality of life.
The good news is that a senior nutrition program thoughtfully developed and crafted by experts can help older adults stay healthy, fit, and nourished.
To that end, our team at The Welstone At Mission Crossing, our senior living community in Mission, KS, put together this guide. Read on to learn how older adults’ dietary needs change and the roles of nutritional senior wellness programs.
How Aging Impacts Diet and Nutrition for Seniors
In the same article mentioned above, the researchers noted that age-related changes, such as impaired digestion and alterations in taste, can increase older adults’ risk of malnutrition. So do social isolation and loneliness, both associated with lower food intake and reduced appetites.
Here’s how those physical changes and mental states older adults experience impact their dietary and nutritional needs.
Reduced Efficiency in Processing Protein
One of the primary changes to dietary needs after 60 is the increased likelihood of needing more protein.
Proteins are the building blocks of life that make up every cell in the human body. Without enough protein, the body cannot make new cells and tissues or repair damaged ones.
The problem is that the aging body becomes less efficient in digesting, absorbing, and processing protein. It can lead to sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.
Stanford Lifestyle Medicine says muscle mass loss can begin as early as 30. However, it worsens with each passing decade, with individuals in their 60s losing as much as 4% to 5% of muscle mass. Their muscle strength also decreases by 9% to 10%.
Since sarcopenia affects the musculoskeletal system, it can considerably impact older people’s mobility. It can reduce their independence by diminishing their ability to perform daily tasks. Seniors with significant muscle mass and strength loss may also be at risk of frailty, falls, and fractures.
Diminished Ability to Absorb Other Essential Nutrients
According to a study published in Frontiers, aging also causes a decline in the body’s ability to absorb vital micronutrients, such as:
- Calcium, which is necessary for things like bone health and muscle movement
- Vitamin B12, a critical component of DNA, red blood cells, nerve function, and cell metabolism
- Vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphorus
According to the researchers, reduced food intake also contributes to nutritional deficiencies in older adults. Since nutrients play many roles in proper body functions, failure to get enough of them can lead to poor health.
Decreased Appetite
Another age-related factor affecting older adults’ diet and nutrition is appetite decline. In some seniors, this problem occurs because they perform fewer physical activities. Since they don’t move about as much as they used to, their bodies need fewer calories, which can then result in appetite loss.
Aging can also impair older adults’ senses of smell and taste, changing how they look at and appreciate food.
For seniors living alone, not having anyone to break bread with can be enough to make them lose their appetite. Even if they don’t have mobility issues, they may not want to cook for themselves because they don’t want to eat alone. They may also not relish the thought of meal preparation and cleaning up after a meal.
As a result, older adults, especially those who live alone, are at a higher risk of meal skipping. The more often they skip meals, the higher their risk of becoming undernourished.
Senior Nutrition Program to the Rescue
An expertly curated nutrition program aims to make healthy eating for seniors easier to achieve through personalization. It focuses on specific nutritional concerns while providing a balanced diet for seniors. And, if carried out by an expert culinary team, it can help minimize meal skipping.
Personalization to Account for Specific Nutritional Concerns
A senior nutrition program is a personalized meal plan that accounts for an individual’s:
- Dietary preferences
- Specific nutritional requirements (e.g., need for more protein or less salt and sugar)
- Health goals (e.g., reduced fat, sugar, and salt intake for optimal weight maintenance)
At The Welstone At Mission Crossing, our senior fitness nutrition expert works with our residents to create personalized meal plans.
Encourage Regular Eating by Delivering Chef-Prepared Meals
As mentioned above, older adults, especially those living alone, may not want to cook because it requires preparation and cleaning up. Our independent living community in Mission, KS, addresses this issue through our senior nutrition program, Sensations Dining.
With Sensations Dining, our residents can rely on our chefs to prepare highly nutritious, delicious meals. They can choose from various cuisines, from home-style dishes to international culinary delights. Plus, they don’t have to worry about cleaning up after, as our kitchen staff happily takes care of this task.
Turning Meals Into Enjoyable Opportunities for Socialization
At The Welstone At Mission Crossing, we serve all our healthy, senior-focused, and delicious meals in our beautiful dining room. Here, our residents and their friends and neighbors can break bread together. They can have socially and mentally stimulating conversations as they eat.
Since they can enjoy meals with others, they’re less likely to skip meals. Instead, they’ll look forward to eating more healthily.
The more often older adults socialize, the better for their cognitive and mental health. As the U.S. CDC points out, social connectedness can help reduce risks of loneliness and isolation.
Eat Healthily and Thrive in Our Senior Living Community
A thoughtful and well-developed senior nutrition program makes it easier for older adults to keep up with their changing dietary needs. It can play a massive role in helping them stay fit and healthy by ensuring they get the proper nutrients they need to put more pep into their step.
If you’re considering transitioning to an independent living community in Mission, KS, our friendly, compassionate staff at The Welstone At Mission Crossing looks forward to meeting you.
We’ll happily take you on a tour of our community’s senior-friendly amenities, including our beautiful dining room, where our residents enjoy delicious, nutritious meals in an inviting, social environment. Schedule your visit with us today.
