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How Can Your Elderly Loved One Suddenly Be Malnourished?

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Elderly Care in Folsom CAElderly-Care-in-Folsom-CA

Your elderly loved one’s health status can change really quickly and one of the scariest changes can be when you suddenly notice that she’s malnourished. Figuring out why she’s not getting all the nutrients that she needs can be tricky, so start with the big reasons first.

 

Health Problems

Your elderly loved one may have changing health conditions that affect how well she eats and how well her body is able to process nutrients from what she eats. Those problems could be along the lines of a chronic illness or they might be more physical, such as dental issues. It’s important that if you suspect changing health conditions are a root cause of your loved one’s poor nutrition that you get her to her doctor immediately. He can run tests to determine what exactly is going on.

 

Dietary Restrictions

Sometimes your loved one may have dietary restrictions caused by a known health issue and that can cause her to become malnourished. This can especially be a problem if your loved one really doesn’t enjoy the new way of eating that has been recommended for her. She may simply decide that it’s less bother to avoid eating and that does no god whatsoever.

 

Reduced Social Connections

If your elderly loved one isn’t getting out as much as she used to or she’s not seeing or talking to friends as often, this can be a potential cause of malnourishment. Although it doesn’t sound related at first, this could be the case because quite often social interactions revolve around food and eating, which your loved one may not be engaging in quite as much. Your loved one may also have an extreme dislike of eating alone, leading again to her deciding that there’s no need to eat.

 

Emotional Issues

Your elderly loved one’s emotional health can be closely related to her nutrition levels. If she’s depressed, lonely, or experiencing grief, she’s less likely to be eating well. In some cases, she may be avoiding food altogether. Talk with your loved one to determine what her state of mind is currently.

Understanding why your loved one isn’t getting enough nutrition can help you, her doctor, and her elderly care providers come up with a plan that works for her.

If you or an aging loved one needs elderly care in Folsom, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.

 

Jay Bloodsworth

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