As a caregiver, you may be responsible for planning and preparing meals. Older adults experiencing frailty have high rates of poor nutrition. Some people find it difficult to make nutritious meals for a person experiencing frailty.
The Nutrition Chapter explores the following topics:
- The benefits of healthy nutrition.
- The difference between good nutrition, malnutrition and dehydration.
- How to recognize eating habits in the person you’re caring for.
- Reasons why a person’s nutrition might need support.
- Myths about nutrition and health.
- Recognizing is a person is at risk for poor nutrition.
- Recognizing is a person is at risk for dehydration.
- Strategies for if the person you’re caring for refuses to eat.
- The link between nutrition and mouth care.
- Helpful tips when talking to a health care provider about nutrition.
- How to use meal planning to support healthy nutrition.
Common Terms
Throughout the Nutrition Chapter, we’ll explore the following terms:
| Good Nutrition | The act of eating a variety of foods necessary for health and growth. |
| Poor Nutrition/ Malnutrition | A lack of intake of food or nutrients, leading to poor health. |
| Dehydration | A condition that occurs when the body does not have enough water to function properly. It occurs when a person drinks less fluid than the amount of fluid they lose. |
Resources to Support Nutrition
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The Self-Mini Nutritional Assessment (Self-MNA®) is a questionnaire that can be completed by you and the senior you are caring for. This questionnaire can help you recognize malnutrition.
Download the Self-MNA -
Weekly Meal Plan is a sample weekly meal planner created by Dietitians of Canada.
Download the Weekly Meal Plan -
Your Oral Health is a webpage created by The Canadian Dental Association that provides information about dental care for seniors and provides tips for caregivers.
Read about Oral Health -
The Nutrition Chapter lists additional information, tips, and resources on how to find additional support and communicate with health care professionals.
Download the Nutrition Chapter
Next Steps
- Download the Caregiving Strategies Handbook for reference to all chapters in one location (see link in sidebar and below).
- If you want to learn more Caregiving Strategies, register for the online course (see link in sidebar and below). This course allows you to work through these topics at your own pace alongside other caregivers.
- Sign up below if you would like to receive updates from PGLO about resources for caregivers and or upcoming online course offerings.