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Good Nutrition is Good for All Ages
While people of all ages can experience nutritional deficits, older adults are at particular risk. Poor nutritional status may be a consequence of poor eating habits or loss of appetite; limited access to food due to limited mobility, funds, or time; or it may result from disease or injury. In all cases, poor nutrition or malnutrition needs to be evaluated.
Reports of the prevalence of malnutrition vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including patients’ diagnoses and age, the setting, and the nutrition parameters and assessment tools used. However, the prevalence is particularly high among older adults. In fact, malnutrition is much more common in elderly than in young populations. As the proportion of elderly people rises in countries around the world, malnutrition and its attendant risks are also expected to rise.