Many Seniors are Malnourished

Malnutrition is a growing problem among older Americans. Of the millions of older adults admitted to the hospital every year, at least one in three is malnourished upon admission. And about half of older adults in rehabilitation settings are malnourished, which may place them at higher risk for malnutrition. Further, patients who enter the hospital malnourished have heightened risks of poorer health outcomes, including longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, greater complication and readmission rates, and higher mortality rates. A variety of factors contribute to this situation, according to a Gerontological Society of America paper: taste disturbances, difficulty accessing or preparing food because of functional limitations or cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, bereavement, and poverty all may cause older individuals to eat less. Read More...