How to ensure the elderly do not suffer from malnutrition

Muscat: While malnutrition in the elderly is mostly due to their psychological state, you can help them to prevent this condition.

Let's start by looking at the reasons that lead to malnutrition in the elderly. First, an absence of appetite: this is often due to chronic diseases such as digestive problems, diabetes, asthma, etc.

The other reasons are slow eating, depression, poor hearing and vision, difficulty having chewing and swallowing and also loss of smell and taste, according to the Ministry of Health.

To prevent malnutrition, we should share meal times with them and encourage them to engage in physical activities regularly to increase their appetite. We can also use herbs and spices to improve the flavor of the meals, so their desire to eat will increase.

Promote meals rich in various nutrients like fruits, fresh vegetables, whole and lean meats and also plan for nutritious snacks between meals which contain fruits, vegetables or low-fat dairy products.