189x Filetype PPTX File size 0.16 MB Source: www.staffordshire.gov.uk
Covering: • What is malnutrition • Common signs and symptoms of malnutrition • Why older people are more at risk of malnutrition • What to do if someone is malnourished • Daily living equipment and technology that can help with preparing meals and eating food • Support in Staffordshire Malnutrition – The Facts: • Losing weight as we get older is not part of the ‘normal ageing process’. • Poor nutrition (malnutrition) could be to blame. • Malnutrition is a serious condition. It is caused by a lack of nutrients in our diet, either due to a poor diet or problems absorbing nutrients from our food. • In the UK, over a million people over 65 suffer from malnutrition. Most of these people live in their own home. • Being malnourished can make medicine less effective. Making it harder to recover from illness. • Malnourished people see their GP more often. They go to hospital more often and stay in hospital for longer. Signs and symptoms of malnutrition: • Unplanned weight loss (causing clothes, dentures, belts or jewellery to become loose) • Low body weight • Lack of interest in eating or drinking • Tiredness • Muscle weakness (increasing the risk of falls) • Feeling down or feeling like they ‘can’t be bothered’ • Getting ill more often and taking longer to recover • Confusion and forgetfulness • Feeling cold and finding it harder to warm up Why older people are more at risk of malnutrition: Activity: • Think about the different factors (physical and social) that can make older people more at risk of malnutrition. • Think of some ideas to help address these issues. • Feedback. Why older people are more at risk of malnutrition: There are many factors that can make older people more at risk of malnutrition, including: • Reduced appetite • Reduced sense of taste and smell • Gum shrinkage • Dry mouth • Difficulty digesting food • Ability and manual dexterity (moving your hands) • Motivation These will now be discussed in more detail…
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