Comfort Home Care

Maryland & Washington, D.C. In-Home Care Agency

Serving Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Washington, D.C.
301-984-1401
Schedule a Free Consultation
  • Home
  • In-Home Care Services
    • Alzheimer’s / Dementia
    • Assisted Living Facility Care
    • End-of-life Care
    • Fall Prevention
    • In-Facility Care—Partner with Us
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Respite In-Home Care
    • Senior In-Home Care
    • Sick/Injured Recovery Care
    • Special Needs Care
    • The Six Activities of Daily Living
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Home Care FAQs
    • When Do You Need an Aide?
    • 17 Signs That Your Loved One Needs At-Home Care
    • Free Guides
  • About
    • About Us
    • The Comfort Home Care Difference
    • Reviews
  • Careers
  • Areas Served
    • Barnesville
    • Bethesda
    • Brookeville
    • Chevy Chase
    • Gaithersburg
    • Garrett Park
    • Germantown
    • Glen Echo
    • Kensington
    • Laytonsville
    • Poolesville
    • Potomac
    • Rockville
    • Silver Spring
    • Somerset
    • Takoma Park
    • Washington, D.C.
    • Washington Grove
    • Hyattsville
    • College Park
    • Beltsville
    • Greenbelt
    • Laurel
    • Takoma Park
    • University Park
  • Contact Us
    • Send a Referral
    • Schedule Free Consultation

Tips for Spotting Malnutrition in a Senior Loved One

While a number of health conditions seniors may face are well-known and often looked for by their caregivers, one that sometimes falls through the cracks is malnutrition.

Whether due to living alone, having financial issues, or any other reason, some seniors and older adults find themselves with major deficiencies in their diets, to the point that it negatively impacts other areas of their health and well-being.

tips spotting malnutrition senior

In-Home Care Support

At Comfort Home Care, our home health services and senior care programs are ideal for a wide range of issues you or a loved one may be dealing with, including malnutrition. As a caregiver of a senior, what are some of the telltale signs that your loved one might be struggling with malnutrition?

Here are a few indicators to look out for.

Significant Weight Loss

One of the simplest and most common ways to tell if a senior is not eating enough, or not getting the proper nutrients, is if they experience sudden or significant weight loss. If you notice that your loved one has lost a lot of weight, and they don’t seem to be trying to lose weight on purpose, this can be a sign that something is off with their diet.

A Lack of Appetite

If your loved one generally has a good appetite but suddenly seems to have lost interest in food, or doesn’t seem as hungry as they used to be, this can also be an early sign of malnutrition. Often, a lack of appetite is one of the first things people experience when they’re not getting enough to eat or the right types of nutrients.

No Food in the House

Along similar lines, caregivers who visit their loved ones regularly may also notice that there’s no food in the house, or that the fridge and cupboards are bare. If your loved one is not able to get to the store on their own or has trouble cooking for themselves, this can lead to malnutrition if they’re not getting help with meals.

Cooking Less

Especially among people who loved to cook for much of their lives, but may not be able to do so as easily now, a sudden change in cooking habits can also be indicative of malnutrition. If your loved one used to cook big meals regularly but now only prepares small meals for themselves, or stops cooking altogether, this may mean they’re not getting enough to eat.

Healing or Dental Issues

In other cases, people who are malnourished may also experience a range of other issues, such as slow healing times for wounds or cuts, gum disease, or tooth decay. This is often due to a lack of vitamins and minerals that are essential for proper healing, such as vitamin C.

If you’re worried that your loved one may be experiencing malnutrition, there’s a chance an in-home care program will be a helpful resource for you and your family. For more on this, or to learn about any of our senior in-home care services, speak to our team at Comfort Home Care today.

Couples Care: Keeping Relationships Whole

Couples Care: Keeping Relationships Whole
One guide you might find helpful:

Selecting an in-home caregiver? Learn why couples care is an affordable solution for families.

In-Home Care Providers: Agency Vs. Independent Contractors

Agency Vs. Independent In-home Care Provider
One guide you might find helpful:

Selecting an in-home caregiver? Learn the basics about Agency Vs. Independent Contractors In-Home Care Providers.

Is it Time for In-Home Care

Is it Time for In-Home Care
One guide you might find helpful:

Need a to know when to use In-Home Care? Read our guide "Is it Time for In-Home Care"!

A Family Guide for In-Home Dementia Care

Family Guide for In-Home Dementia Care
One guide you might find helpful:

Need a guide for In-home dementia care? Read our family guide for In-home dementia care!

Coming Home From Rehab. Now what?

Coming Home From Rehab. Now what?
One guide you might find helpful:

Need to know what to do after coming home from rehab? Read our guide "Coming Home From Rehab. Now what?"!

The Changing Care Needs of Parkinson’s Disease Patients

The Changing Care Needs of Parkinson’s Disease Patients
One guide you might find helpful:

Need to know about the changing care needs of parkinson's disease ? Read our guide "The Changing Care Needs of Parkinson’s Disease Patients"!

Understanding Strokes and Recovery

Understanding Strokes and Recovery
One guide you might find helpful:

Need to know about the warning signs of strokes? Read our guide "Understanding Strokes and Recovery"!

Categories: Senior Food, Senior Health

Join Our Mailing List

Have A Question?

Name*
Patient Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get A Free Consultation

301-984-7681

Get Our Free Guide on “How Do I Pick an In-Home Care Provider?”

Learns the ins and outs on how to pick a caregiver who will give you the best service for your loved one.

Click Here!

FacebookLinkedIn
121 Congressional Lane, Suite 201 Rockville, MD 20852
4000 Albemarle St., NW, Suite LL15 Washington, D.C., 20016
301-984-1401 | Fax: 301-984-1402

© Copyright 2016-2023 Comfort Home Care
All Rights Reserved