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Crutches - Which type is best for you?
Health Products

Selecting the Right Crutches

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Buyer’s Guide to Crutches Selecting the Right Crutches

Those looking to buy their first pair of crutches may not be aware that there are two different types of crutches, and that they have some major differences. Underarm crutches, also called auxiliary crutches, are the most common type of crutch- these are the typical crutches assigned to patients in recovery from ankle or knee injuries. They have a pad that is held under the arm, pressed into the patient’s side during use. The other major type of crutch is the forearm crutch, also known as the elbow crutch. These crutches have an open cuff that grips the user’s forearm during use. The differences are not merely in design – the two different types of crutch have different strengths and weaknesses. Which type you choose should depend on your individual needs. Consider the following as you choose your crutches: Selecting the Right Crutches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfKtN-ulDVo
Strength – Crutches of all types require a certain amount of upper body strength for proper use. People often have the misconception that the arms alone hold the body’s weight when on crutches. In fact, weight is distributed throughout the entire upper body, and the muscles of the trunk and shoulders do just as much work as the arms. Both underarm crutches and forearm crutches require upper body strength, though forearm crutches require a bit more from the user. If you have limited strength in your core, you may want to consider a knee walker instead. Selecting the Right Crutches
Selecting the Right CrutchesBalance – Learning to walk on crutches can be a real challenge to balance and coordination. Underarm crutches are the most common type of crutch, and can be easier to master at first. However, forearm crutches are proven to give you greater control over your movement. They are often suggested for more active patients, as they allow different gaits for different terrain. Selecting the Right Crutches
Fit – It is vitally important that crutches be properly fitted to the user. You should be able to stand up straight comfortably with a crutch, with your elbow bent between 15 and 30 degrees as your hand rests on the handle. Be sure your crutches are the right size for your body. Improperly fitted crutches can lead to abrasions, muscle pains, and nerve damage. Underarm crutches especially require proper fitting before use. Selecting the Right Crutches
Crutch tips – Where crutches come in contact with the ground, they typically have a rubber, slip-resistant tip. These tips are very important, as they must support your weight and keep the entire crutch balanced as you walk. Larger tips have a wider surface area in contact with the ground, and provide greater stability. Some crutch tips articulate to make walking on your crutches easier and faster. Furthermore, some crutches feature special spring assist technology which allows the crutch to move with the user and adapt to their gait. Whatever type of crutch you use, be sure that the crutch tip is solid and unbroken. Selecting the Right Crutches
Crutch handles – All crutches place a great deal of strain on the wrists and hands. To this end, some crutches feature special handles with extra padding, which can reduce stress and make your walking aid easier to grip. Others offer ergonomic shaping specific to the left or right hand. These offer greater security and comfort to the user. Be sure your crutch has a comfortable handle that will be easy for you to use over a long period of time. Selecting the Right Crutches

Selecting the Right Crutches

Selecting the Right Crutches

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Facts About Senior Isolation
Conditions & Treatments

Facts About Senior Isolation

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Feelings of loneliness and isolation can greatly affect the seniors’ health. It’s a silent killer. Understanding the consequences of isolation and loneliness can help you know why it’s important to help seniors out of the darkness. Facts About Senior Isolation

Senior Isolation Prevalence

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that approximately 11 million seniors lived alone in 2010. Seniors who live by themselves are susceptible to loneliness and isolation, especially when they do not have family nearby. Actually, an AARP report says that there are fewer seniors with family members available to help them. Facts About Senior Isolation
Just because seniors live alone and don’t have family available doesn’t automatically lead to loneliness and isolation. It has to do with socialization. Many seniors do not take advantage of senior activities in their community. They don’t feel comfortable or don’t believe it will help them. This is what contributes to the desperate feelings of loneliness, and then leads them to isolation.
It’s important that seniors receive help when do not want to engage in social events in their area. Personal consulting can be a great resource for them to pull them out of the consequences of isolation. What are the consequences of isolation? Continue reading to learn more.

Increased Risk of Mortality

The National Academy of Sciences reports that loneliness can increase the risk of mortality in seniors. With fewer people around, there is a higher chance of depression. Depression can lead to seniors not caring for themselves as well as they should, such as going to the doctor for checkups and follow ups.

Affects Mental and Physical Health

Seniors who feel lonely often have poor mental health. Those with poor mental health often have physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and other problems. These ailments can cause more severe medical issues, such as high blood pressure.

Increased Risk of Dementia

Cognitive decline and decreased cognitive performance is a consequence of loneliness, according to neuroscientist Dr. John Cacioppo. It’s also part of the use it or lose it phenomenon. When seniors don’t use their mind, they start to lose it. This is what can lead to dementia symptoms that can become progressively worse, especially when seniors continue to isolate themselves.

Leads to Unhealthy Behaviors

Loneliness and isolation can lead seniors to engaging in unhealthy behaviors. For example, they may not exercise, eat an unhealthy diet, or take up habits such as smoking. These unhealthy behaviors can lead to physical conditions such as high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.
As you can see, lonely seniors who isolate themselves are at risk for serious medical and mental problems. While it can be difficult to get seniors to leave their home and socialize, it’s easy to get them to speak on the phone with someone who understand what they are suffering with right now. Sometimes, all it takes to decrease feelings of loneliness and bring them out of isolation is speaking to someone who truly cares about them. Consider setting up personal consulting for your senior. Kendall Van Blarcom has a patient ear and has experience working with seniors in isolation. He can help your senior feel better about life, and improve quality of life. Contact him now.

Facts About Senior Isolation

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Under-eating in Senior Home Care
Diet & Nutrition

Under-eating in Senior Home Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

“Anorexia of Aging” – Coping with Under-Eating in Senior Home Care

When it comes to senior home care, one of the biggest concerns is undereating among the elderly. Lack of appetite is unfortunately widespread among America’s seniors. While a small decrease in appetite is natural and in many cases healthy, many seniors experience a dangerous decrease in appetite in their seventies and eighties. This condition has given rise to the term “Anorexia of Aging.” Under-eating in Senior Home Care
“Proper nutrition is key to healthy aging — but it’s also a struggle for many of our clients,” says Larry Meigs, President and CEO of the Visiting Angels senior home care network. “We’ve long held that Americans need to have a bigger conversation about healthy eating for seniors.” Under-eating in Senior Home Care
If you suspect that an elderly person in your life is starting to suffer from a reduced appetite, there are steps you can take to counteract the effects of undereating. Poor nutrition can have a serious impact on your loved one’s well-being and put them at significant risk for a number of conditions.
Luckily, there are a number of strategies used by families and senior home care professionals that encourage healthier eating in the elderly.

Causes of Under-eating in Seniors

There are a number of behavioral and biological changes that can lead to seniors eating fewer nutrients and calories than they should be.
Some of these changes are directly related to appetite. Seniors use up less energy than younger individuals, so their bodies require fewer calories. In response, seniors’ bodies respond by lowering their appetites. One recent study further suggests that elderly individuals produce a higher amount of peptide YY (aka PYY), a hormone that suppresses hunger. Reduced taste buds also make eating less pleasurable for seniors.
Other changes that lead to reduced appetite are somewhat less direct. For instance, many seniors wear dentures or suffer from dental problems, which can make eating uncomfortable or even painful. Meanwhile, medications can create or exacerbate appetite problem. Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia may also forget whether or not they have eaten, especially if they already suffer from reduced appetite.

Effects of Under-eating in Seniors

The implications of undereating for seniors may be greater than you think. As those of us in the senior home care industry know, “anorexia of aging” has been tied to numerous health problems. According to the NCBI, poor nutrition is tied to “the development and progression of chronic diseases… impaired muscle function, decreased bone mass, immune dysfunction, anemia, reduced cognitive function, poor wound healing, [and] delayed recovery from surgery.”
Ultimately, undereating can cut years from your loved one’s life. That same NCBI study reports that under-nutrition is associated with “increased morbidity and mortality” in the elderly. So if your loved one’s body or lifestyle is causing a severe loss of appetite, it’s important to take action.

Senior Home Care Tips to Prevent Under-eating

At Visiting Angels, our senior home care professionals can coordinate with families to create a senior home care plan that addresses a client’s reduced appetite. But it’s possible for seniors and their family’s to tackle undereating on their own.
Here are some of the strategies that senior home care professionals regularly use or recommend to clients to prevent undereating in elderly individuals.

  • Have Meals Together. Undereating is more common among seniors who eat alone. This makes it easier for seniors to forget or skip meals if they don’t feel particularly hungry. If you can, eat meals with your loved one, or find a way that they are guaranteed company when they eat.
  • Cook with Healthy, Calorie-Rich Foods. When seniors don’t have the appetite to eat more, the best way to address undereating is by adding calories without adding food mass. You can use healthy, easy-to-eat, calorie-rich foods like olive oil, yogurt, peanut butter, chickpeas, or avocadoes.
  • Take Care of Meal Preparation. You can make sure that your loved one is receiving nutritious meals regularly by overseeing meal preparation. Or — if you lack the time or cooking acumen to prepare meals yourself — you can see if there is a meals-on-wheels program in your area.
  • Address Any Dental Concerns. Loose or poor-fitting dentures can make chewing uncomfortable. The same can be said for tooth decay or gum disease. Ask your loved one if they have any trouble chewing and consider following up with a visit to the dentist.
  • Monitor Medications. Many medications can result in lowered appetite. So ask your loved one about the side effects of his or her prescriptions. If you feel your loved one may be losing their appetite due to medication, encourage them to speak with their doctor about possible alternatives.

Visiting Angels senior home care professionals make living independently easier for America’s seniors. Our services include nutrition assistance services, such as grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation. Learn more about our senior home care programs by visiting our website.

Under-eating in Senior Home Care

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Controlling PMS Symptoms
Conditions & Treatments

Controlling PMS Symptoms

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) The Storm Before the Storm

What does a man know about PMS? Let me tell you, being surrounded by women in my office, all day long, I have learned to become the expert spectator; this is by far the best position for a man. Controlling PMS Symptoms
All joking aside, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or the more politically correct Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), can interfere with many social, family, and work activities. Controlling PMS Symptoms
In looking at the disorder from a physiologic perspective, many women have been found to have high levels of estrogen with low levels of progesterone (Dhar et al. 1991). Other causes or factors associated with PMDD are obesity, diet and nutrition, and lifestyle issues

Classification and Diagnosis

PMS-A – Anxiety
PMS-H – Hyperhydration
PMS-C – Cravings
PMS-D – Depression
Obviously, most women will have a combination of these four classifications. As many women are also aware, many of the symptoms in PMS are related to changes in their hormonal levels; specifically the estrogen to progesterone ratio. A physiologically normal woman will have a Progesterone to Estrogen ration of 120:1. In PMS-A it has been shown to be 48:1 and in PMS-D it elevates to 274:1. It should also be noted that diet plays an essential role and the specific type of fat consumptions is important. Women consuming a majority of Omega-6 fatty acids (American Diets) tend to have more issues with PMS than those women with diets higher in Omega-3 fatty acids (Mediterranean diets).

Treatments Controlling PMS Symptoms

PMS-A (Anxiety) can be treated with diet, mineral supplementation, and a more natural addition of progesterone. With all PMS, I would highly recommend meditation and some other form of Mind-Body techniques that can provide control and regulation.
PMS-D (Depression) there tends to be higher than normal levels of progesterone. Progesterone has a calming effect on the neurological system and it can be helpful in insomnia. Obviously, there can be many issues surrounding depression and women with this type of PMS should seek the help of a health professional.
PMS-C (Cravings) or issues with glucose intolerance. Even though these women tend to have cravings surrounding sugars due to volatile sugar levels in their bloodstreams, they should strive to eliminate simple sugars from their diets. Diets rich in unsaturated fats such as the Anti-Inflammatory or Mediterranean Diets should be considered.

Nutrition and Supplementation

The following supplements may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of PMS.

  • Calcium and Vitamin D (PMS and Calcium)
  • Magnesium (Quaranta, S. 2007)
  • Zinc ( Postgrad Med. 1985 May 15;77(7):32-7)
  • Vitamin B6 (J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2000 Mar;9(2):131-9)
  • Vitamin E (J Reprod Med. 1987 Jun;32(6):400-4.)
  • GLA (Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1984 Oct 15;150(4):363-6)
  • Chasteberry (Vitex) (J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;59(9):1307-12)

Mind-Body Medicine and Practices

Personally, I prefer to combine and therapies with a mind-body connection. PMS and many female disorders have such a strong, and unfortunately, negative psychiatric component. In many cases, this disorder, listed in the psychiatric diagnosis bible DSM-IV and there are physicians that do not feel PMDD is even a legitimate disease process. (See article)
Donna Eden in her book, Energy Medicine,makes a reference to PMS as a gift. “PMS drops you deep into your own being, and your own truth explodes forth. Whatever you have been successful at burying or denying to yourself bursts forth at this time of the month. It is a truth serum from which you cannot escape, and if you carve out space for it, PMS makes you wiser” (Eden, 1998).
I have come up with a simple ceremony geared towards reclaiming your control and to help in establishing ritual. I find it fascinating in our society that we are very ritualistic when it comes to ingesting medications and when we undertake surgical procedures, but we have eliminated daily ritual in our lives. Let us look at a simple ritual for PMDD or PMS that could possibly help a woman regain superiority over her second chakra.
Find a sacred space. That place where you feel the most comfortable and where you will uninterrupted.
Set the stage by filling the room with the scent of bergamot or neroli; fennel, rose, geranium, or citrus fruits will work as well. If you do not have incense or oils you can try filling the bathtub will bath salts.
On the floor of your sacred space, create a sacred geometric shape such as a circle or triangle; whatever appeals to you at the time. It is also important that you create this circle or shape with whatever is pulling you. If you are outside and wish to surround yourself with river rock or are inside and have potpourri it only matters that you create a space for”you”.
Before stepping into your space, set an intention. It may be something simple like “Give me the freedom to control my fears and anxieties”. With the intention, breath deeply and step into the circle.
Sit or lie down in your space, comfortably, but not so that you will fall asleep. Sleep can be a wonderful part of your ceremony, but save that for after the ritual.
Meditate on your intention. Meditate on the word control and only the word control. Feel the colors of control and the smells of control. Open the top of your head (figuratively) to the archetype of the Benevolent Queen. Allow the healing powers of other women to enter your spirit. Claim it as your own. I would recommend this type of contemplative meditation for 15 minutes to start; increase your time as you desire.
When you have truly brought the word control to the point where you feel as though you own it, then bring your focus back to your breathing. Listen to your breath and calm your mind.
Ease yourself out of your meditation and step out of the circle.
Close your ceremony by thanking the sisters that were present with you in your quest and to the power of the moon that influences the cycles of the earth and water.
If your practice becomes more advanced, I have recommended that women try a moonlight stroll in a safe area where they can bathe in the moonlight and focus their meditation while they walk. With every slow step, think the word “control.”
In conclusion, there are many different therapies for help with PMDD or PMS. The goal is to try and find the one that is right for you. For many women, they will start with medications like Prozac and other SSRIs. These may be helpful, but so can chamomile tea and and a nice hot bath with bergamot. Be open to the change that is going on in your body and keep a journal to record the journey. Look back at your journal and see if certain practices help more than others. Share the journey, you’re not alone.

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Enjoying Outdoor Activities without Back Pain
Exercise & Fitness

Enjoying Outdoor Activities without Back Pain

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson
Outdoor activities are a healthy and enjoyable way to live an active lifestyle; when the weather is nice, the outdoors are hard to resist. Here in California we are lucky, even though summer is officially “over” the summer weather will continue for many more months! Enjoying Outdoor Activities without Back Pain
A reduction in activity leads to a decrease in physical conditioning and as a result when the weather is nice, people tend to overestimate their physical abilities. Low back pain from gardening or aches in the shoulders, neck, and knee joints from cleaning the garage are quite common.
When the body engages in a strenuous activity, combined with uncomfortable and awkward positions, it responds with pain and even injury. The most common cause is an insufficient warm-up and the absence of a regular stretching routine. Yard work is an example: Awkward body positions during mowing, trimming, seeding and raking are un-natural for the body. When performed over an extended period, a chronic, painful, overuse conditions can emerge.
The biggest mistake made by most people is to ‘wait until you need help’. The problem with waiting is the injury gets worse the longer you wait. The best time to seek the help of a physical therapy is when you don’t have these annoying aches and pains. Your physical therapist can evaluate your home and work environment and recommend adaptations to ease stress and strain on your joints. These adjustments help prevent overuse injuries, strains, and sprains. The therapist can also advise you on the most efficient and biomechanically correct ways to sit, stand, lift and even get in and out of a car.
Outdoor activities help you stay healthy and happy and with a physical therapist at your side will help you safely do the things you enjoy, without having to worry about injuries. Do you want help before those nagging pains become unbearable? Schedule an appointment with a physical therapist today.

Enjoying Outdoor Activities without Back Pain

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What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES
Conditions & Treatments

What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

I am a physician and I am a migraine sufferer. Migraines have plagued me since I was a resident about 20 years ago. Since then, I have been on a journey to figure out my own triggers and I have tried every remedy I could find, both traditional and alternative. What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

I tried acupuncture, biofeedback, not drinking alcohol, elimination diets, and eventually wound up with the fact that I am simply going to have to lived with them and treat myself with sumatriptans for rescue relief when I feel one coming on.
For myself, traditionally autumn is the worst time of year and this year, the migraines came on with a vengeance in September. Again, you hate your life and at some point you feel like it’s time to throw in the towel because it can be impossible to live one’s life with this serious head pain. Obviously I have been to neurologists and physicians and had work-ups including MRI screens and tried methods like botox injections and even hormonal manipulation. Alas, I was given pain meds and triptans and told to come back if things worsened. What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES
This September, as I said, the pain hit me with a vengeance and I had migraines almost daily through the end of October. I even had one day where the triptans did not work and I had to drive myself to the emergency room.
I am writing this article about what doctors don’t tell you about migraines because these two things are simply things we don’t tell you because “we don’t know.” Many of you may already know about these two items, but they were new to me, and they seemed to have saved me from a life of headaches to one where I wake up and feel great. These two items stopped my migraines in their tracks and I am so thankful.
Today I want to talk about Petadolex. This is a specific formulation of purple butterbur. Now, I have tried butterbur in the past with absolutely no results. Pentadolex has been available in Europe since 1972. It has effects on the smooth muscle of blood vessels and stabilizes blood flow through them which decreases the throbbing of these vessels. Petadolex is the only safe formulation of butterbur on the market in my opinion and it has saved my life.
Obviously, go to your physician if you are suffering from severe migraines and make sure there is nothing serious going on and then if you are given the green light, try Petadolex.
If you click the link about and sign-up using code 4466 you’ll get 20% off the order. This has been a life-saver for me both for treatment and prevention of migraines.

What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About MIGRAINES

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Rise Above the Fear of Falling
Health Tips

Rise Above the Fear of Falling

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Even when our bodies are at our strongest, the impact of a fall can be quite severe. For elderly people whose bodies have lost strength and whose balance is less than exemplary, falling is a serious risk and can have massive consequences. Indeed, one-third of elderly people will suffer at least one fall every year, but amazingly, fewer than half of these will notify their doctor. Also, an elderly adult who suffers a fall is twice as likely to fall again. Rise Above the Fear of Falling
 
Rise Above the Fear of Falling
Irish company Home Healthcare Adaptations created this infographic which outlines common causes of falls in elderly people, as well as the lasting effects that can occur. When an elderly person falls, it’s very unlikely that they’ll simply say ‘Ouch’ and pick themselves up again with ease. It is far more probable that they will suffer broken bones or reduced mobility – and that’s if they’re fortunate. In some cases, it can result in a serious head injury or even prove to be fatal.
An elderly person might understandably be nervous about falling, but the best way to overcome this fear is to meet it head-on and try out a simple chair rise exercise, as described in the infographic below. This will help to greatly improve balance and ease the person’s fears. Although it is important to urge elderly people to exercise caution, we shouldn’t scaremonger, as this could plant a giant seed of self-doubt in their mind.
We can also help by following a few simple safety guidelines such as keeping floors clear of trip hazards and pull rugs, plus installing grab rails and bannisters where they may be needed. These straightforward modifications could make all the difference in helping an elderly person to avoid a fall. Rise Above the Fear of Falling

Rise Above the Fear of Falling

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7 Myths of Physical Therapy
Conditions & Treatments

7 Myths of Physical Therapy

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

Myth 1: I need a physician’s prescription to see a physical therapist.

Fact: Seventy percent on consumers surveyed think they need a prescription to see a physical therapist but the fact is ALL 50 states allow a patient to be evaluated by a physical therapist without a prescription. In California, physical therapists can evaluate, and treat you for 45 days (or 12 visits, whichever is first), without the need for a prescription. If your physical therapist feels you need to see a physician they will refer you to see one. 7 Myths of Physical Therapy

Myth 2: Physical Therapy is painful!

Fact: Seventy One percent of people who have never visited a physical therapist think physical therapy is painful. That number decreases significantly among those seen by a physical therapist. Physical therapists are trained to work within a patient’s pain threshold. It is never our intention to make you more painful during, or after, therapy.

Myth 3: Physical Therapy is only for injuries and accidents.

Fact: Physical therapy, which became prevalent during World War I to help rehabilitate our injured service people, is a diverse allied health care practice that prevents injury and decreases pain while also promoting increased mobility, health, and wellness. Physical therapists do treat patients post injury, or accident, but also work hard to prevent injuries.

Myth 4: Any health care practitioner can perform physical therapy.

Fact: Although 58% of people believe other health care practitioners can administer physical therapy, only physical therapists (and physical therapy assistants) can legally perform physical therapy. Physicians, Chiropractors, trainers, etc. cannot legally perform physical therapy.

Myth 5: Physical Therapy isn’t covered by insurance.

Fact: Even though 1 in 5 people still believe physical therapy is not covered by their insurance, most insurance policies cover some amount of physical therapy services. The addition of the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as Obamacare) actually requires physical therapy to be a part of new health insurance policies.

Myth 6: Surgery is my only option. 7 Myths of Physical Therapy

Fact: Over 79% of people who have been seen by a physical therapist believe it is an alternative to surgery. In fact, research shows in many cases it can be as effective as surgery. If surgery is required, your physical therapist will work in conjunction with your surgeon to provide you the best outcomes.

Myth 7: I can do physical therapist myself.

Fact: Fifty Eight percent of people think they can do, or unsure if they can do their own physical therapy. Licensed physical therapists have specialized education, and experience to perform physical therapy. As a licensed physical therapist, I know my outcome would be poor if I performed physical therapy on myself.

7 Myths of Physical Therapy

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Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?
Diet & Nutrition

Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

We are what we eat, right? Good nutrition is beneficial at any age, but in particular for our aging loved ones the benefits worth noting are increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness/disease, higher energy levels, a more robust immune system, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. Unfortunately, one thing I have observed in my years of caring for clients is that when seniors start to struggle in the home by themselves, nutrition suffers. Reasons can vary from budgetary, depression, or medical issues such as dementia, chronic illness or physical limitations. Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?
 
Nutrition might not be near the top of your list of worries for your aging parent, however, it really should be. Proper nutrition for older adults is even more important than ever, with research revealing that poor nutritional decisions can eventually lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Preliminary studies have shown a connection between omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia.
For some seniors living at home, the tasks of planning, purchasing and preparing meals feels like it is not worth the effort or they simply cannot handle it anymore. Or, there might be other factors that have come into play. Much like assessing mental capacities, assessing nutritional habits can be like reading between the lines. What you see on the outside is your loved one not eating well. The cause might be something completely avoidable. Common themes of seniors not eating well often center around:

  • Inability to chew – from dentures, tooth issues, weakened jaw muscles
  • Upset stomach – causes include too much gas or medication irritation to stomach lining
  • Inability to shop – from inability to drive or cognitive ability to make shopping lists or meal planning
  • Inability to cook – caused by inability to stand for long periods of time, unable to reach utensils or cooking accessories, fear of leaving oven or stove on.

Sometimes the simplest answer IS the answer. If you probe a little deeper, you might find a simple solution or a way to have a caregiver help you remedy the situation. Observing, assessing and planning can be a tall order for family members. Taking the responsibility for someone else’s health and well-being is stressful and sometimes out of a person’s comfort zone. There is help. One of the roles a professional caregiver can play is to help with nutritional assessment; meal planning and can even extend to shopping and cooking.
Many professional caregivers are trained to factor in good nutrition while making meals more pleasant and flavorful. They will create a plan with options and advice to improve your loved one’s nutritional health and quality of life. Additionally, the experience of engaging the senior in the process and helping them feel like they are contributing can bring the joy back into dining—using eye-catching table settings and companionship to lift the moods of those needing care as well as providing fundamental nutrition.
According to Caregiving.com, check the following when you want to assess the nutrition risk for your loved one. If the answers to most of the following questions are “Yes,” your loved one is at risk and you should contact a professional for some nutritional intervention.

  • Has your loved one recently lost weight? About how much?
  • Have they had any recent appetite loss?
    • For how long? (days, weeks, months)
  • Do they have difficulty chewing?
  • Do they have difficulty swallowing?
  • Food allergies?
  • A special diet?
  • Have you been given instructions about a diet?
  • Do they eat fewer than 2 meals per day?
  • Do they eat few fruits, vegetables, and dairy products?
  • How many servings per day?
    • Fruits?
    • Vegetables?
    • Dairy?
  • Do they drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day?
  • Do they eat most meals alone?

These are factors that should be considered on a periodic, but regular basis, or if there has been a noticeable change in weight or eating habits. Professional caregivers typically track daily food intake and can help you recognize such developments and risk factors. Maintaining a healthy diet is proven to yield numerous health benefits but there is a bigger picture. Good nutrition leads to better health which leads to an improvement in your loved one’s quality of life, mobility, and independence.
About the Author: Suzanne McNeely, MSW, NCG, CLPF, CMC, is president and founder of Senior Planning Services (SPS) in Santa Barbara, CA. She began SPS in 1989 after many years of working in social services and hospital administration. Suzanne designed SPS to help advocate and provide guidance in all aspects of daily life for the elderly, including psychological, physical, financial and legal issues. She can be reached at smcneely@seniorplanningservices.com.

Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?

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