Below Ngaire has shared the top
10 myths when it comes to nutrition for seniors:
1. YOUR STOMACH
SHRINKS AS YOU AGE
“Although your appetite may change, your
stomach doesn’t shrink when you get older.”
2. WEIGHT-LOSS IS
HEALTHY
“Unfortunately this is not the case when we are
older. Instead, dieting or unintentional weight
loss should be avoided in our later years. A bit of
extra padding in later age is beneficial to support
your body and brain in the years ahead.”
3. YOU NEED TO EAT
LESS AS YOU GET
OLDER
“While your metabolism slows and your energy
output decreases, food and eating is what protects
and fuels you and is your key to ageing well.”
THE TOP TEN
MYTHS REGARDING NUTRITION FOR SENIORS
In-home care provider Home Instead Senior Care is
launching its newest resource, Nutrition for Seniors,
this month. The resource is a guide to healthy habits
for eating well in old age and was developed with
respected dietitian and author Ngaire Hobbins.
“I was thrilled to be asked by Home Instead to work with them to prepare Nutrition for
Seniors. Research has found that up to 30% of older people living in the community are either
malnourished, or at risk of malnutrition,” says Ngaire. “This is not their fault; it is often a
consequence of our lack of awareness that the nutrition needs of seniors are unique and eating
patterns must change with age to support physical and mental capacity. It can also be partly
a consequence of social isolation and/or reduced physical/cognitive capacity, which is where
the invaluable support of home and community care services such as Home Instead Senior
Care comes to the fore.”
50 | Pindara Magazine ISSUE 12 | 2018