Dallas Home Health Care – 972-239-3934
Due to age-related physical changes, to chronic illnesses that are common among older adults, and to side effects of medications they may take, older people have different nutritional needs than younger people.
Older adults usually need fewer calories than younger adults, but need more of certain nutrients, such as calcium and vitamins D and B12. Older people who don’t exercise; have dementia, difficulty functioning, chronic illness, tooth or mouth pain, or depression; drink excessive alcohol or use drugs or are isolated or have limited incomes run a higher risk of malnutrition.
Malnutrition can lead to underweight, or, if an older person eats too many calories, to overweight. These problems can lead to other problems, such as weakness and falls, and bone disorders.
What you should do: Your healthcare provider should weigh you when you visit and check for weight gain or loss. Tell your healthcare provider if you’re feeling tired or weak or achy, since this may be a sign that you’re not getting the nutrients you need. Your provider can investigate possible causes and recommend remedies.
Sleep problems lower quality of life and can contribute to falls, injuries and other health problems. Stress, anxiety, depression, delirium, dementia, certain drugs, alcohol, and medical problems such as painful arthritis, nerve problems, breathing difficulty, heartburn, and frequent urination at night can cause sleep problems.
What you should do: If you have trouble sleeping or feel sleepy during the day, tell your healthcare provider. He or she will ask you questions that can help identify the type of sleep problem you have. If you often snore or your partner says you stop breathing while asleep (a sign of a sleep disorder called “sleep apnea”), or that you often move your legs and arms while sleeping (a sign of a problem called “periodic limb movements during sleep”) your healthcare provider may recommend tests at a sleep lab.
Many things can cause bladder control problems, or “urinary incontinence,” including an overactive bladder muscle, a weak bladder sphincter, urinary tract infection, constipation, delirium, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, medication side effects, and difficulty getting to the toilet. Often, a number of these contribute. Urinary incontinence can lead to problems such as falls, depression, and isolation.
What you should do: In most cases, incontinence can be cured or greatly improved with treatment, so tell your healthcare provider if you have bladder control problems. The treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on the underlying causes.
