Health concerns regarding malnutrition among the older populations: considerations from a Slovenian perspective

Abstract

Lay Summary Diet is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle for all age groups. However, with aging it is important to be aware that the diet, due to changed physiology, needs an accordingly adjusted and balanced daily regime. This article reviews the field of older population’s nutrition and presents: the most common nutritional disorders and causes with the limited demographics of malnutrition among the older populations, and several efficient malnutrition measurement tools. The global literature shows noticeable trends of high proportions of malnutrition among older persons, both globally and in Slovenia. Predominantly observed are overnutrition like overweight and obese, but as well, and often unnoticed, undernutrition. The latter is more worrying, as inadequate knowledge in health care institutions regarding nutritional screening tools and measures to prevent drastic forms of undernutrition, seem to facilitate these trends. The article formulates considerations to be implemented in appropriate education and awareness programs, to reduce the frequency of nutritional disorders and co-morbidities, and generally improve the nutritional status of the older population, thus, provide better quality of health later in life.