Page 68 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 68
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 68 In recent years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the global elderly
population (Boateng and Jeptanui, 2016). In Slovenia, 19.4 % of population
is aged 65 or more (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2018). With
advances in medicine helping more people to live longer lives, it has been esti-
mated that between 2015 and 2050, the number of the elderly will double glob-
ally (Boateng and Jeptanui, 2016).
Chronic diseases are the main reason for most health problems in old-
er age. It is possible to prevent or delay the onset of many of them by engag-
ing in healthy behaviors, earlier in life. Many studies suggest that even in very
advanced years, physical activity and good nutrition can have powerful bene-
fits for health and wellbeing (WHO, 2015). Ageing causes numerous changes
in health and the performance of the body. Nutrition plays important role in
health maintenance. Changes like decreased salivation, difficulty in swallow-
ing, and delay in the emptying of the stomach and esophagus, as well as low-
er gastrointestinal movement, affect the ability to maintain good nutritional
status. As a result, the elderly are a potentially vulnerable group for the risk
of malnutrition (Abolghasem Gorji et al., 2017). One of the changes notable
in the elderly is a decrease in appetite, which can be caused by changes to the
physiology, in psychological functioning, in social circumstances, acute illness,
chronic diseases and the use of medication. Higher rates of appetite decline oc-
cur in women, nursing home residents, hospitalized people, and with age (Pil-
grim et al., 2015).
Current public health approaches to population ageing have not been ef-
fective. The health of older people is not keeping up with increasing longev-
ity (Chatterji et al., 2015). Current health systems are poorly aligned with the
needs of older populations (Smith et al. 2012 and Oliver et al., 2014). Long-term
care models are both inadequate and unsustainable (Beard and Petitot, 2011).
Malnutrition is a common healthcare problem that predominantly af-
fects the elderly population. It has an effect on increasing morbidity and mor-
tality, lowers the quality of life, extends hospital stays and raises the costs of
care. Malnutrition is common at all levels of healthcare, from primary to spe-
cialized and also in nursing homes. Malnutrition is known to be the most fre-
quent cause of disability in the elderly that are living at home, hospitalized or
in a nursing home (Cuerda et al., 2016).
In Slovenia, a dietitian is usually not part of the personnel structure of
nursing homes. The employment of dietitians in nursing homes in not yet es-
tablished although the importance of good nutritional status in well known.
That is why we decided to employ a dietitian and implement a series of actions
in order to improve the nutrition status of our residents with the bigger goal
of improved quality of life. Hopefully those actions will become widespread
on a national level and nutritional treatment will be implemented in all nurs-
ing homes.
population (Boateng and Jeptanui, 2016). In Slovenia, 19.4 % of population
is aged 65 or more (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2018). With
advances in medicine helping more people to live longer lives, it has been esti-
mated that between 2015 and 2050, the number of the elderly will double glob-
ally (Boateng and Jeptanui, 2016).
Chronic diseases are the main reason for most health problems in old-
er age. It is possible to prevent or delay the onset of many of them by engag-
ing in healthy behaviors, earlier in life. Many studies suggest that even in very
advanced years, physical activity and good nutrition can have powerful bene-
fits for health and wellbeing (WHO, 2015). Ageing causes numerous changes
in health and the performance of the body. Nutrition plays important role in
health maintenance. Changes like decreased salivation, difficulty in swallow-
ing, and delay in the emptying of the stomach and esophagus, as well as low-
er gastrointestinal movement, affect the ability to maintain good nutritional
status. As a result, the elderly are a potentially vulnerable group for the risk
of malnutrition (Abolghasem Gorji et al., 2017). One of the changes notable
in the elderly is a decrease in appetite, which can be caused by changes to the
physiology, in psychological functioning, in social circumstances, acute illness,
chronic diseases and the use of medication. Higher rates of appetite decline oc-
cur in women, nursing home residents, hospitalized people, and with age (Pil-
grim et al., 2015).
Current public health approaches to population ageing have not been ef-
fective. The health of older people is not keeping up with increasing longev-
ity (Chatterji et al., 2015). Current health systems are poorly aligned with the
needs of older populations (Smith et al. 2012 and Oliver et al., 2014). Long-term
care models are both inadequate and unsustainable (Beard and Petitot, 2011).
Malnutrition is a common healthcare problem that predominantly af-
fects the elderly population. It has an effect on increasing morbidity and mor-
tality, lowers the quality of life, extends hospital stays and raises the costs of
care. Malnutrition is common at all levels of healthcare, from primary to spe-
cialized and also in nursing homes. Malnutrition is known to be the most fre-
quent cause of disability in the elderly that are living at home, hospitalized or
in a nursing home (Cuerda et al., 2016).
In Slovenia, a dietitian is usually not part of the personnel structure of
nursing homes. The employment of dietitians in nursing homes in not yet es-
tablished although the importance of good nutritional status in well known.
That is why we decided to employ a dietitian and implement a series of actions
in order to improve the nutrition status of our residents with the bigger goal
of improved quality of life. Hopefully those actions will become widespread
on a national level and nutritional treatment will be implemented in all nurs-
ing homes.
