WATCH

Recognizing Hunger or Malnutrition in Seniors.

Sometimes the signs of hunger or under-nutrition are hard to detect. Comfort Keepers^® wants families and caregivers to WATCH in order to spot signs of under-nutrition in older Americans. The term “WATCH” represents five steps you can remember when observing the nutrition of a loved one:

• Watch for physical problems. Look for bruising, dental difficulties, or sudden or sustained weight gain or weight loss.
• Ask seniors about their eating habits. How have their tastes or preferences changed?
• Talk to a doctor. Discuss nutritional needs or problems specific to the loved ones’ unique needs or management of diseases.
• Check with a pharmacist. They can warn you of the potential for drug-food interactions.
• Have your visits during mealtime. This is the best time to observe eating habits first-hand.

Comfort Keepers’ Interactive Caregiving ™ promotes good nutrition in seniors by making healthy eating a priority. Our Comfort Keepers help seniors with shopping and cooking, and they share meals together to ensure that seniors are enjoying healthy lifestyles.