The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this advice:
Provide plenty of healthy foods and snacks.Flavor foods with fresh herbs and spices, avoiding salt.Offer prepackaged supplements, such as nutrition shakes.Promote daily exercise, even a little bit, to help stimulate appetite and promote strong bones and muscles.Plan social activities centering around meals and exercise.Some 3.7 million American seniors are malnourished, the American Academy of Family Physicians estimates. The academy mentions some of the potential side effects:
Feeling fatigued.Losing weight without trying.Losing muscle strength.Feeling depressed.Having memory loss.Getting sick frequently.Developing anemia.The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says these nutrients are especially important as we get older:
Vitamin D and calcium, through fortified foods, low-fat dairy products, leafy green vegetables and fish.Vitamin B12, through fish, seafood, lean meats and vitamin B12-fortified cereals.Fiber, through fruits, vegetables and whole grains.Potassium, through fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.Polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, rather than saturated or trans fats.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists these exercises that can help improve balance in seniors:
Practice Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art.Walk backward, stepping to the side or walking heel to toe.Practice standing on one foot and holding the position.Take group exercise classes that focus on balance.