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.
Source:
Huffington Post, 3/18/15, Senior
Malnutrition
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