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Since the COVID-19 crisis presents such a serious risk for seniors, a poor diet may be easy for family members to overlook. An older adult’s goal might be to stay home and avoid trips to the grocery store or farm stand. Even before concerns about the coronavirus caused so many seniors to self-isolate, an elder’s poor diet and malnutrition was a challenge many families faced.
As the coronavirus pandemic persists, researchers continue to say a weakened immune system can increase an older adult’s risk for the virus. A poor diet can often result in decreased immunity. In addition, there are other health issues linked to malnutrition:
Learning what puts older adults at risk for a poor diet or malnutrition will help you learn how to detect a problem and address it.
Evaluating a Senior’s Risk for Malnutrition
For some older adults, malnutrition is linked to a lack of transportation to the grocery store or an inability to plan healthy menus. Research from the Mayo Clinic also shows that other physical, social, and psychological factors can contribute.
Once you pinpoint the cause of a senior loved one’s poor nutrition, it will be easier to address those concerns. Whether it’s having groceries delivered or exploring meal delivery services, there are a variety of solutions to consider.
Sunrise Response to Nutrition During COVID-19
If you are considering a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, you can feel confident in Sunrise. Our teams are working hard to ensure residents maintain a healthy diet despite the coronavirus. COVID-19 Response: Message from Caitlin Rogers, VP of Dining and Nutrition Services explains how we accomplish that.