57% of Hawke's Bay Elderly Residents Risk Sub- Clinical Malnutrition
The study from the Hawke's Bay District Health Board showed 57 percent of over-65s in the region were not eating properly which could lead to a loss of independence or a hospital stay, The Dominion Post reported. Out of an estimated 7518 people, a third would be high-risk. Those at highest risk were those living alone or Maori elderly. Some elderly did not believe they needed to eat as much as younger people, could not cook or thought it was normal to lose weight with age, the study found. It said there were three steps to becoming obviously malnourished starting with having these 3 risk factors at which point the condition started affecting an older person's health, leading to "sub-clinical malnutrition".
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Being on a low income
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Living alone
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Having a restricted diet
Eric's comment: Do you have an elderly mother or father? Are they under medical care or perhaps in a retirement village? Have you made sure mum or dad are eating well, a balanced and nutritious meal daily? I'm sorry to say that I've heard many a horror story of older folks living in dreadful situations - handfuls of pharmaceutical drugs and a shocking diet. White bread, lots of cups of tea and plain biscuits, packet soups and the mandatory "drugs to lower cholesterol", "heart pills", and up to a dozen toxic concoctions which give multiple side-effects. Is this a dignified exit for a person in their twilight years? How many older people live in under developed countries that fair better than our NZ elderly? Probably better food, more family support and no toxic drugs to cause them a side-effect ridden misery as they age. Love your parents, take them for regular assessments and question their prescriptions. Check on their diet and make the right changes. Do they have problems chewing, pooping, sleeping, with energy, etc? Get the basics right and they will be able to enjoy their remaining years in comfort.
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