Nutrition

And
Recovery Process
One of the biggest threats to recovery is malnutrition. Three main factors are found in the
literature that are associated with malnutrition among older adults:

1. Limited ability to prepare nutritious meals (Fernández-Barrés et al., 2017;

Wham, Teh, Robinson, & Kerse, 2011)

It is important to have a discussion with your doctor/dietician about how to create a balanced
diet that suits you or your loved one’s nutritional needs.

2. Poor oral health (Burks et al., 2017)

There are more than 125 health conditions that may affect or be affected by oral health,
including:
Cardiovascular disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis,
obesity, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults with diabetes are
almost twice as likely to have gum disease as non-diabetic patients of equivalent ages.

- Individuals with developmental disabilities are also at higher risk of developing dental
hygiene issues like tooth decay and gum disease due to a variety of reasons like not being
able to hold a toothbrush to a lack of understanding of proper hygiene practices.

Resources:
Dental Health During Chemotherapy
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/chemotherapy-and-your-mouth.pdf

Dental Health for Older Adults

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth

Ways the Make Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/7-ways-to-make-dental-hygiene-for-kids-fun-
0613

3. Depressive symptoms that limit eating (Cabrera, Mesas, Garcia,

& de Andrade, 2007).

Cabrera and colleagues (2007) found that older adults with depressive symptoms were more
likely to become malnourished due to a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss, which
further intensify depressive symptoms. This places older adults with depression at higher risk
for hospitalization because of weakness.
 - Some individuals may also be resistant to their new diets prescribed by their doctor or
nutritionist. They may increase their chances of malnutrition

- It is important to find meaningful activities for loved ones in order to promote high
quality of life and decrease depressive symptoms. These could include hobbies, work,
leisure activities, volunteering, participation in spirituality or quality of participation in
self-care including level of sleep quality. Discuss with an occupational therapist how
these different occupations may be addressed.

https://www.aota.org/Publications-News/otp/Archive/2018/Malnutrition-Among-Older-Adults-Role-of-Occupational-
Therapy.aspx