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Malnourishment increasing dramatically among the elderly

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Apr 2018, 8:18AM
A study from Massey University found almost three-quarters of older adults admitted to hospital are malnourished (Photo \ Getty Images)

Malnourishment increasing dramatically among the elderly

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Apr 2018, 8:18AM

Getting the right nutrients in small doses of food is being seen as key to helping prevent malnourishment in the elderly.

A study from Massey University found almost three-quarters of older adults admitted to hospital are malnourished, or at risk of becoming so.

Registered nutritionist Nikki Hart told Mike Hosking while appetite decreases in the elderly, they still need the same nutrients.

She says there are other psychological things that have an impact too.

"You get a decreased sense of taste and smell so food does become unappealing. You've got other things going on such as arthritis. You can't open things as easy so it becomes a problem to even cook."

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

 

 

 

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