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The Home Care Advantage: Preventing Malnutrition – Arcavia Home Care

Cause of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is one of the biggest detriments to healthy living. When a person stops eating properly and consistently their health begins to decline. This is especially true of elderly individuals who may already be experiencing a reduction in energy, metabolism, appetite, and overall health.

A complex set of social and economic circumstances, as well as physical and mental health, all contribute to nutritional risk. Factors include diminished appetite, impaired taste and smell, diseases and medication that interfere with the ingestion, absorption, and metabolism of food, reduced mobility that limits food shopping and meal preparation, poverty, eating alone, depression, grief, and loneliness.1

Although loneliness is not always associated with malnutrition, or a cause of malnutrition, it is certainly an enabler of becoming malnourished. Lonely people are able to hide from society, including the medical system, meaning any signs of malnutrition are not caught early on. The prevalence of malnutrition in the Canadian elderly is staggering. More often associated with poverty, the increasing cost of living overall is making it especially tough for seniors to eat well. If you or a loved one are in need of Home Care Services in Toronto to address nutritional concerns and combat loneliness, reach out to us today. We are here to provide support and ensure the well-being of seniors in our community.

Dangers of malnutrition

“In Canada, over one-third of adults over the age of 65 are at risk of malnutrition. This, in turn, puts them at higher risk of a long list of other diseases, as well as frailty, falls, and hospitalization. The problem has a disproportionate effect on certain segments: Those living alone or experiencing depression, for example, are at a higher risk. But malnutrition is prevalent in institutional settings too, including hospitals and long-term care centers. And it’s a problem that cuts across income level, class, and gender.”2

The real danger of malnutrition is the fact it is a silent killer. Often a body cannot tell others it needs more nutrients and a person who is depressed or socially isolated may not have the capacity or capability to consciously indicate they are malnourished. The ongoing effects of being malnourished in the elderly can also lead to other dangers such as dizziness, headaches, lack of cognitive ability, frailty, slips or falls, memory loss, vision loss, muscle loss, organ damage, etc.

Malnutrition is more common in immigrants as they may have lower incomes and less access to healthy foods. As a result, elderly immigrants may be most at risk of becoming malnourished.

Elderly Immigrants Most Likely to Be Malnourished

The fact is Canada’s population is not only aging, it is also becoming increasingly diverse: more than 200 ethnic groups were reported in the Census over 20 years ago. The number of ethnic groups has grown since then. Yet for the most part, aging-related programs and policies continue to treat the elderly population as a homogeneous group. This means that a variety of needs, concerns, and histories of ethnocultural minority seniors often go unrecognized.3

“Canadian-born members of visible minority populations are also at risk for low incomes and are more likely to live in poverty than Canadian-born members of non-visible minorities. According to one study, they have lower earnings than their non-visible minority counterparts even when factors such as potential employment experience, education, occupation, and industry are considered.3

It is often perceived that elderly immigrants have a support system of their own to rely on. However, this is usually not the case, especially in a bustling city like Toronto. Many elderly immigrants in Toronto need additional support systems to ensure their continued health, including access to Long Term Care Homes Toronto, hospital visits, clinic appointments, medication pickup, grocery shopping, meals cooked, companionship, personal hygiene, housework, etc. These services play a crucial role in maintaining their well-being and quality of life.

Support System is Essential

As mentioned, “Idealizing ethnic families as being highly supportive is a mistake and creates the risk of neglecting the need of ethnic seniors for formal support and community programs. To successfully reach this population group, community programs need to be designed to meet a diversity of interests and needs. Innovative methods must be found to break through the cultural and linguistic barriers that keep ethnocultural minority seniors isolated and prevent them from participating in recreational and social activities.“ 3

“Social support, such as having a driver to make trips to the grocery store or a helper to prepare meals, is important in improving nutrition in seniors, the study advises. Reaching out to older people in the community is the best way to encourage better nutrition, says Elder, praising the role of antipoverty groups, family physicians, meal programs and churches and community centres.”1

Various support systems for the elderly in Canada are vital to ensuring the health and longevity of our seniors. Programs and systems that promote regular contact and check-ups with the most marginalized are able to reduce social isolation, loneliness, and malnourishment.

The Arcavia Home Care Advantage

Arcavia Home Care works with all types of organizations that serve and cater to our elderly population. This includes hospitals, rehabilitation centers, local clinics, pharmacies, geriatric centers, and a host of other companies, program providers, and service deliverers, to ensure no one is left unserved. We recognize the growing need for elderly immigrant home care and for temporary quality staff support for our partnering facilities. At Arcavia Home Care our primary goal is to extend the quality of life of our patients. We extend the quality of life of every patient by supplying tailored programs that ensure our patients receive the best level of care at the most affordable rates.

To learn more about our programs or to become a partner organization contact: Samuel Assaad Manager – Business Development & Marketing

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