Page 92 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

Better Nutrition = Enhanced Quality of Life

More than one in three seniors in the care of others is at Use the resources available (including your pharmacist) to
risk for under- or mal-nutrition (Mayo Clinic/American check for drug nutrient interactions or possible side effects
Dietetic Association). Malnutrition is the lack of proper of prescribed medications.
nutrition, not necessarily a lack of food. Detecting
malnutrition in seniors may be difficult, and even seniors • If there are medical questions regarding nutrition,
who eat enough may be eating the wrong foods to stay medication, and health, Comfort Keepers suggests that
healthy. At Comfort Keepers®, we help seniors live seniors, their family members, and other caregivers speak
healthy, independent lives and promote senior nutrition with doctors about tests to help identify chronic malnutrition
through the Nourish Senior Life® initiative. or other nutrition-related problems.

As seniors age and change, so do their nutritional needs. Nourishing seniors is an important part of maintaining senior
Making sure those needs are met makes a real difference independence. Comfort Keepers champions senior nutrition
in their quality of life. Caregivers or family members in the community through the Feed Seniors Now food drive.
should be aware of the signs and symptoms of hunger or We also partner with Lubbock Meals on Wheels (LMOW) to
malnutrition in older adults. The following list may help feed seniors on the LMOW weekend meal bag and hot meal
in that assessment: programs. These seniors have no other means to obtain weekend
food other than that provided through Lubbock Meals on
• Watch for physical problems such as poor wound Wheels. Throughout the month of September, Comfort Keepers
healing, easy bruising and dental difficulties. of Lubbock encourages businesses, organizations and churches
• Keep track of weight loss either with a home scale or to hold food & funds drives to collect specific food items for the
by transporting the older adult to the doctor’s office LMOW weekend meal bag program.
for weight checks when the individual is unable to
stand without assistance. Food items to be collected are: Instant Cream of Wheat, single
serving cereal boxes, goldfish crackers, pretzels, Beanie Weenies,
• Pay close attention to seniors’ eating habits and Chef Boyardee, fruit cups, Jello cups, pudding cups, cheese
ask them to tell you where and when they eat, but crackers, cereal bars, granola bars, juice boxes, soup, small
don’t rely on self-reports alone. Since our caregivers cans of tuna or chicken, individual packages of peanuts, small
(the people we call Comfort Keepers®) often spend packages of chips, Ensure, Boost or Glucerna.
mealtimes with seniors at home, they may have a
better idea of normal eating habits. Please contact Comfort Keepers (806) 687-7800 to help Feed
Seniors Now.
• Suggest family members visit during mealtimes,
which can improve a senior’s consumption. If a senior
lives alone, make sure you know who is buying his or
her food.

• Know what medications an older loved one takes
and whether they can affect appetite and digestion.

92 Lubbock Senior Link