Discussing Long-Term Care With Older Adults in Your Life
When your loved one can no longer live independently, you may consider options for long-term care. It?s time to talk to your...
Read moreMalnutrition, which happens when the body does not get the nutrients it needs, is a major concern for seniors. Life-threatening malnutrition disproportionately affects those 85 and older. Recognizing malnutrition can help family members and caregivers know when to seek out medical care and assistance for their aging loved one.
Undernourished older adults can experience wasting, in which they have a low weight for their height. They may have micronutrient, macronutrient, or caloric deficiencies.
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Some people with malnutrition can also have excess weight or obesity. These individuals have exceeded their caloric needs but lack essential nutrients to keep themselves healthy.
When malnutrition progresses, it can lead to adverse health consequences, resulting in hospitalizations and death. In addition to increasing these risks, malnutrition can lead to the following:
Older adults living in the community may have inadequate diets that fail to meet their nutritional needs. They may lack access to healthful food, such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
Feeding America reports that one in 14 adults aged 60 and older experienced food insecurity in 2021. Food insecure older adults had deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron as well as macronutrients such as protein. Those with disabilities had food insecurity rates twice as high. Seniors living in multigenerational households also experienced more food insecurity as families struggling to make ends prioritize the nutritional needs of their children.
Residents in long-term care facilities can encounter hunger as well. Malnutrition in a resident can indicate neglect. When staff do not provide adequate food and water or do not address the needs of residents, inadequate nutrition can result.
Elders living in the community and in nursing homes may experience hunger and malnutrition because of chronic health conditions that affect their eating habits or nutrient absorption.
Chronic conditions and acute illness can cause malnutrition in older adults. The National Council on Aging reports that approximately 95 percent of adults 60 and older have at least one chronic condition, and 80 percent have two or more chronic conditions.
For instance, diabetes, cancer, and dementia can reduce appetite, making it challenging to consume enough nutritious food. These diseases can affect the metabolism as well.
When chronic conditions progress and result in hospitalization, older adults can face a heightened risk of nutritional problems. Sixty-five percent of hospitalized older adults are at risk of malnutrition, according to WebMD.
When malnutrition is the result of disease, the symptoms of malnutrition may be similar to the disease symptoms, per the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
The following signs and symptoms could suggest malnutrition in older adults:
If you notice indications of malnutrition in yourself or a loved one, these resources could help.
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Read moreIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MOREIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
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READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
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READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
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READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
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