The nutritional care that must be taken with older adults ranges from maintaining adequate hygiene to implementing strategies to stimulate their appetite. We will give you some tips.

As a person approaches what is known as old age, his or her body experiences multiple changes that require special care. Abilities are lost, muscle mass begins to decrease and, in some cases, fat increases. This can be related in the future to the appearance of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, constipation, among others.

Thus, the body begins to demand a series of special care and one of these aspects has to do with nutrition, as stated by nutrition specialist Adriana Puente, who adds that, at this age, for proper nutrition, it is vital to know if the older adult suffers from any type of pathology, since this will largely determine their diet.

For her part, María Clara Ocampo, a specialist in elderly care at the CES University in Medellín (Colombia), recommends “being very careful when cleaning dishes and cutlery, and that the elderly person should have their own utensils that are not shared with anyone else in the house. Likewise, food should be washed very well before preparing it and food waste should be constantly removed from the house.”

Regarding nutrition, some basic recommendations should be taken into account, although each decision should be made based on the indications of a health professional:

• It is recommended that older adults eat between 3 and 5 times a day. More than quantity, you have to think about the quality of the food; that is why vegetables, cereals and fruits are important. All in the appropriate quantities according to their particular condition and the recommendations of a specialist.
• Hydration is important, so drinking one to two litres of water is recommended.
• Reduce consumption of salt and sugar, as well as saturated fats (red meat and sausages).
• A diet containing some fish such as salmon and sardines, rich in essential acids such as omega 3 and omega 6, is recommended.
• If possible, it is advisable to increase the consumption of calcium (dairy products) and vitamin D.

For its part, the Institute for the Care of Older Adults of Mexico offers the following recommendations to stimulate appetite in older adults:

• Promote oral hygiene, especially of the tongue, in order to improve the perception of flavors.
• Take into account the person's taste in relation to flavors and smells.
• Make sure that food is at the right temperature.
• To improve the flavor of food and stimulate appetite, condiments such as cilantro, epazote (paico) and parsley can be used.
• Make sure the adult eats slowly.
• The lightest meal of the day should be dinner.

Support is essential at this stage of life to ensure the physical, mental and emotional well-being of older adults. In this sense, nutrition becomes one of the determining factors in maintaining overall health.