Healthy aging and improving the quality of life for people 65 years and older is an ongoing concern for the health care community. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million by 2030. If that holds true, older adults will comprise roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population.
As a health care professional, you are committed to improving and maintaining the health of your senior patients. This Adult Nutrition Center features
oral nutrition products,
such as Ensure
® and Glucerna
®, and products for
tube-feeding.
Both sections offer detailed nutrition information about our products that can help your patients take steps toward healthy aging.
The Key Role of Proper Nutrition At Abbott Nutrition, we know that proper nutrition plays a role in both the prevention and management of many
chronic diseases.
Nutrition is also involved in maintaining muscle quality and quantity, and discussion continues about nutrition’s role in
sarcopenia,
the gradual weakening of the muscles in the human body.
Nutrition Intervention Can Improve Outcomes for Seniors Research studies have shown that nutritional intervention can benefit poorly nourished patients by helping:
- Decrease complications and morbidity1-7
- Decrease mortality2,8-12
- Improve quality of life13-19
So how can seniors maintain their health as they age? Key components of good health care for seniors are routine nutrition screening, assessment, and intervention:
- Screen patients for risk of malnutrition
- Assess patients identified as at risk for malnutrition to determine the presence and severity of the condition
- Intervene with appropriate nutritional support
If you have questions about any aspect of Abbott Nutrition products for older adults, submit your questions via our
contact form. Just complete the form, submit your question, and our experts will be in touch. If you would like to speak with an Abbott Nutrition representative, please contact us at (800) 551-5838 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
References
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nutritional supplementation on nutritional status and clinical outcome of orthopaedic
patients. Clin Nutr 2003;22:39-46.
2. Austrums E, Pupelis G, Snippe K: Postoperative enteral stimulation by gut feeding
improves outcomes in severe acute pancreatitis. Nutrition 2003;19:487-491.
3. Lesourd BM: Nutrition and immunity in the elderly: Modification of immune responses
with nutritional treatments. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:478S-484S.
4. Gianotti L, Braga M, Nespoli L, et al: A randomized controlled trial of preoperative oral
supplementation with a specialized diet in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
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11. Delmi M, Rapin CH, Bengoa JM, et al: Dietary supplementation in elderly patients with
fractured neck of the femur. Lancet 1990;335:1013-1016.
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support in patients with colorectal and gastric cancer. Nutr Cancer 2002;42:
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community? Findings from a systematic review. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2000;
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14. Davidson W,Ash S, Capra S, Bauer J:Weight stabilisation is associated with improved survival
duration and quality of life in unresectable pancreatic cancer. Clin Nutr 2004;23:239-247.
15. Moses AW, Slater C, Preston T, et al: Reduced total energy expenditure and physical activity
in cachectic patients with pancreatic cancer can be modulated by an energy and protein
dense oral supplement enriched with n-3 fatty acids. Br J Cancer 2004;90:996-1002.
16. Moses A, Slater C, Barber M, et al: An experimental nutrition supplement enriched with
n-3 fatty acids and antioxidants is associated with an increased physical activity level in
patients with pancreatic cancer cachexia. Clin Nutr 2001;20(suppl 3):S21.
17. Payette H, Boutier V, Coulombe C, Gray-Donald K: Benefits of nutritional
supplementation in free-living, frail, undernourished elderly people: A prospective
randomized community trial. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:1088-1095.
18. Isenring EA, Capra S, Bauer JD: Nutrition intervention is beneficial in oncology
outpatients receiving radiotherapy to the gastrointestinal or head and neck area. Br J Cancer
2004;91:447-452.
19. Beattie AH, Prach AT, Baxter JP, Pennington CR: A randomised controlled trial evaluating
the use of enteral nutritional supplements postoperatively in malnourished surgical
patients. Gut 2000;46:813-818.