Lose Weight Nursing Home

After overloading on too many holiday goodies, many of us see losing a few pounds as our number one New Year’s resolution. If this sounds like you, take some comfort in knowing you have plenty of company. More than 100 million Americans are trying to lose weight by dieting each year.

If you do decide to lose weight, a smart approach is a personalized diet and exercise program overseen by a physician or dietician. This is particularly important if you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Avoid popular diets that promise quick results. The goal is to keep the weight off, and that will mean a long-term commitment to lifestyle changes.

Extra weight or obesity can be unhealthy by increasing our risk of diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Even modest weight reduction can make a difference. American Dietetic Association research shows a 5-10 percent weight loss can substantially lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

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Because calorie needs decline with age, we don’t have to eat as much as when we were younger. According to the physician-supervised website VeryWell.com, senior women need 1, 600-2000 daily calories, depending on their level of activity, while senior men need 2, 000-2, 800 calories. It’s vital, then, that most of those calories come from nutritious foods that satisfy daily dietary requirements.

At Country Meadows Retirement Communities, we know that weight management is important for maintaining good health. If residents in senior independent living or personal care/assisted living carry extra weight and are motivated to lose it, we are supportive and suggest they first talk with a physician. We also encourage their participation in the variety of fitness programs that we offer.

Before you begin any new exercise workout, talk with a physician. Health issues such as reduced oxygen intake or joint problems may have to be factored into your fitness plan. Generally, walking and possibly biking or swimming are the best exercises for seniors. In addition, weight training can help increase muscle mass, and stretching can improve flexibility and balance and lessen the risk of injury and falls.

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The staff at Country Meadows enjoys working with our residents to help them remain healthy, fit and active. If you are in the process of choosing a retirement home near you, we invite you to contact us. We would be glad to give you a tour any of our senior living communities and introduce you to our full range of services. We have 10 Pennsylvania retirement communities—in Lancaster, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh, Wyomissing, York-South, York-West, Allentown, Bethlehem and our newest community, Easton—as well as a Maryland retirement community in Frederick.We all want to stay healthy and fit as we age, but when does losing weight become worrisome for older adults? Rapid, unintended weight loss in an elderly loved one could be a sign of a serious health problem. Learn more about the causes of sudden weight loss in seniors and the steps you can take to keep your family member healthy.

Yes, but only in small amounts over time. It’s normal for your body’s levels of water, muscle, and fat — which all determine your total body weight — to decline as you age, according to the medical journal 

Generally, a person’s weight is the highest around age 60, with decreases of less than half a pound every year after age 70. This means gradual weight loss is expected, but you shouldn’t disregard a significant, noticeable drop in weight as part of the natural aging process.

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“As little as 10 pounds over a month would concern me, ” said Dr. Barry Fabius, medical director of geriatrics at Holy Redeemer Health System in Philadelphia. “I’m also concerned about weight loss that is slow and progressive.”

Sudden senior weight loss is quick, unintentional, and unexplained weight loss in older adults. About 15% to 20% of seniors experience sudden weight loss, according to the 

Though some weight loss can be a normal part of aging, losing a substantial amount of weight over a short period of time can be a sign of an underlying condition. Weight loss in older adults is considered a problem when there’s a loss of 5% body weight in one month or 10% over a six-month period.

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Although sometimes the cause of weight loss in elderly adults goes undiscovered, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If your family member is experiencing rapid weight loss, don’t ignore it.

No matter the apparent cause of the weight loss, simply staying aware of your loved one’s eating habits and weight will help you notice any worrisome changes as they happen.

In addition to performing a physical examination of the patient, doctors may ask the caregiver for a detailed history of the patient’s eating habits and weight.

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Dr. Fabius recommends his patients weigh themselves twice weekly, with assistance from caregivers or family members if necessary. He also suggests keeping a food diary, which will help paint an accurate picture of a person’s caloric intake and the timing of the weight loss.

“It’s important to see, in that history taking, how many calories they’re actually burning, ” advises Dr. Fabius. “If a patient is meeting or exceeding their caloric needs, that’s going to make me suspect hyperthyroidism or a malabsorption syndrome.”

It’s helpful for doctors to understand psychological and social factors in the patient’s life, such as dementia, depression, social isolation, and income status. Keeping a detailed record of all prescription and over-the-counter medications could also be useful to doctors and is a safe practice in general.

Managing Weight Loss In Elderly Loved Ones

Senior care facilities often keep track of factors contributing to your loved one’s sudden weight loss as part of their regular services. Most communities, especially nursing homes, measure weight and vitals regularly. Many communities will also work with residents and their families to develop special diet plans to help the seniors manage their weight and improve their overall well-being.

Assisted living communities offer different services depending on each resident’s needs. Most assisted living communities offer meal plans and special dining options, medication management, health monitoring, and social opportunities to help keep senior residents active and safe.

It’s common for senior residents in assisted living to have their weight and vitals checked monthly. If weight loss is a concern when the resident moves in,  staff will likely check their weight weekly or more. Staff at assisted living communities tend to develop close relationships with residents, so it is unlikely for drastic changes in weight or eating habits to go unnoticed.

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Danny Szlauderbach is a managing editor at A Place for Mom, where he's written or reviewed more than 250 articles covering a wide range of senior care topics, from veterans benefits and home health services to innovations in memory care. Since 2010, his editing work has spanned several industries, including education, technology, and financial services. He’s a member of ACES: The Society for Editing and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.There are many reasons why seniors lose weight, but often times a rapid change can be a sign of neglect or abuse by nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Sudden weight loss in nursing home residents can sometimes be a cause for concern and sadly, this problem is very prevalent in nursing homes. Nursing facility residents often have chronic diseases and functional impairments that impair proper nutrition and hydration and require interventions by facility staff.

Weight Loss Nursing Home

Elderly individuals with weight loss are at higher risk for functional decline, hip fractures, and mortality. Consequences of weight loss also may include: muscle wasting, infections, and increased risk of pressure ulcers. Detecting and preventing weight loss is essential to ensure appropriate nutritional intake for a resident. Often times, a rapid decline in body weight can be a sign of abuse or neglect.

Many, if not the majority of nursing homes are severely understaffed. Nurse aides just don’t have the time to feed the residents properly or verify nutrition. Those who are taking the time to feed residents may be doing so distracted, like watching television during mealtimes.

Sudden changes in weight can also influence a resident’s medical and mental status. Proper nutrition is essential for prevention of problems like bed ulcers, dehydration, malnutrition, or poor skin development. A diet rich in nutrients can combat weight loss and contribute to proper wellness. Lack of nutrition or other indicators of abuse may even be a cause for deteriorating condition or death, forming the basis of lawsuits.

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The American Health Care Associations (AHCA) have quantified weight loss levels to help nursing homes determine when special diets need to be introduced. A resident can be