For Prof. Ibiyemi Olasunbo Olayiwola, a don at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adequate nutrition, regular physical activity, social support, among others, are imperative for the elderly to enjoy long life, DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports
Adequate nutrition plays a pivotal role in achieving healthy living, disease prevention and enhancing physiological functions at all the stages of the human life cycle. For each stage of the human lifecycle, including pregnancy, neonatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and the elderly (evening) represents a vulnerable period that demands proper and solid nutrition with physiological reserves for survival, immunity, growth, development and maturation.
This formed part of the crux of Prof. Ibiyemi Olasunbo Olayiwola’s discourse when he delivered the 82nd Inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.
The Professor of Human Nutrition noted that the increase in demand for food makes the health, well-being, dietary intake and nutritional security of the elderly more challenging.
According to him, when people get older, nutritional needs may change either as a result of healthy ageing or the advent of diseases as well as decreased functional capacity and ability.
The don said the physiological, psychological, economic and social change of the elderly are factors conditioning dietary intake and nutritional status and it has been discovered that the elderly are liable to poor food intake, inadequate diet and nutritional vulnerability.
She said: “As we get older, our nutrition needs change. The body needs more of certain nutrients like;
Protein, vitamin B12, Calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and other nutrients. During old age, adequate dietary intake may be challenging due to various factors like loss of appetite, teeth or mouth-related health conditions, loss of functional capacity, difficulties in meal planning and preparation, especially among those living alone etc.”
Olayiwola said though the ability or opportunity to live long is through the grace of God but better nutrition, healthy lifestyle, engaging in recreational activities, reducing substance abuse, and access to good health care also play a significant role in living long.
According to her, socio-economic status, educational attainment, social support system and a conducive hygienic environment can also bring about long life, but there may be changes in nutritional needs which may be due to ageing or the advent of disease associated with ageing.
“Nutritional care of the elderly involves eating different types of food; eating variety of food helps in providing more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed for the body function. Consumption of fruits and vegetable with water is important for the elderly as this will help in increasing their vitamins and mineral intake.
“Foods like fortified breakfast cereals, milk or other dairy products, meat, fish and egg high in vitamin B12 should be regularly consumed by them. They must also consume adequate quantity of vitamin D and calcium. This will specifically help in preventing bone demineralisation which is usually occurring as a result of ageing. The elderly should also be consuming high protein diet. They should also consume whole grain foods like whole wheat and legumes, cereals, rice, and oatmeal.
“You are what you eat is a popular slogan in nutrition circles. This slogan highlights the indispensable and undisputable role adequate nutrition plays in achieving healthy living, disease prevention and enhancing physiological functions at all the stages of the human life cycle. Each of the stages of the human life cycle, including pregnancy, neonatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and the elderly (evening) represents a vulnerable period that demands adequate nutrition and physiological reserves for survival, immunity, growth, development and maturation.
“Nutritional requirements in all the various stages of life are interlinked such that the adequacy in the nutrient intake and nutritional status of a stage is dependent on the one before it. Therefore, meeting the nutrient needs of every stage is very important. For instance, the foetus, a fully developed embryo in the pregnant woman’s womb depends wholly on the nutritional status of the host. The foetus’s growth and development rest entirely on the nutrition of the “would-be” mother. If the mother is poorly nourished or follows an inadequate dietary habit before or after conception, the foetus may be delivered prematurely, affecting the life cycle,” she said.
The don noted that it was imperative to take good care of the elderly for them to enjoy longevity and the ‘evening’ of their life.
“The drastic reduction in infant and maternal mortality experienced in most African countries has been attributed to advances in the healthcare system, as well as easy access to healthcare facilities.
“Generally, taking adequate care of the elderly and meeting their nutritional, health, social and functional needs is very important as this will help them in living long, and enjoying the evening of their life cycle which will help in ensuring the well-being of the society in general (the transfer of knowledge and skills to younger people, especially descendants) and reduce their burden on others,” the don said.
Olayiwola stressed the need for operative care for the elderly, which will necessitate a multi-dimensional approach integrating active collaboration of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, social welfare workers, policymakers, politicians, rural/urban development agencies, members of the community and the legal sector for adequate nutrition in the ‘evening’. She urged government at all levels to ensure prompt payment of pensions and gratuity of retirees as regular and sufficient monthly incomes help retirees to have sound nutritional status and have appropriate nutrition in the ‘evening’.
“Nutrition in the evening should involve a strong political commitment to driving the effective implementation of policy at the grassroot level. Enhancement in the health knowledge of the elderly about possible risk factors, and social measures such as developing a culture wherein children willingly take the responsibility of looking after their aged parents is also recommended. There should be a supervisory mechanism that will guarantee the community and family look after their elderly parents should also be put in place.
“Advancement of a health insurance scheme to cover their healthcare needs, feeding and overall nutritional status. Nutrition in the evening should include issues of hygiene, food selection, physical exercise, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, in its prevention measures. Awareness about recognition of early signs/symptoms of common geriatric problems, training and re-training of medical and paramedical staff to effectively understand the special health needs of the elderly, immunisation services, and other medical aids development of gerontology units. Also there should be strong advocacy to government at all levels to ensure prompt payment of pensions and gratuity of retirees as regular and sufficient monthly incomes help retirees to have sound nutritional status and have appropriate nutrition in the evening. Considering the effect of environmental health on the nutritional status of the elderly, special attention should be paid to environmental problems such as sanitary houses, and reduced pollution,” she said.
She advised the elderly to reduce or avoid consumption of sugary, fatty and salty foods, which are the risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
The don quoted the World Health Organisation as saying regular physical was essential for a healthy ageing process, adding that part of the medical care to be provided to elderly individuals is to ensure that they are physically active as much as possible.
“It is recommended that elderly individuals should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily. Physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health and longevity. The link of PA to nutrition and its impact on health is becoming significant in preventive research and public health. The elderly’s physical activity level has a lot in improving overall health and nutritional status,” she said.
Emphasising other ways to assist the elderly, she said: “Social support from significant others such as health providers, immediate family members and neighbours is, therefore, very essential in ensuring the effective use of medications. Health professionals need to dedicate quality time to explaining the name, dosage and purpose of medications and issues relating to compliance and follow-up visits to elderly patients. Social support within the community is needed for the effective use of medications in terms of reminders to use drugs as prescribed.”
The don decried the neglect of the elderly in Nigeria and most parts of Africa, adding that they are suffering in silence.
On challenges to nutrition at old age, the don said: “Nutrition is one of the vital components of care for the elderly. Researchers have looked at the contribution of nutrition in the prevention of diseases that are associated with ageing. Heart pumps all day and night, irrespective of whether an individual is sleeping or awake. It pumps more than 2.5 billion beats during a lifetime. As a result of ageing, blood vessels lose their elasticity; fatty deposits build up against artery walls and the heart works harder to circulate the blood through the body which lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) as well as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Taking proper care of the body with the right types of fuel (heart-healthy foods like fruits and vegetables) will help in keeping the heart healthy.
“Musculoskeletal problem during old age, the elderly are more prone to bone fractures and medical conditions like osteoporosis. This is due to an increase in bone demineralisation and poor intake of high vitamin D and calcium diet. During this stage, muscle, tendons and joints may also lose their strength and become more flexible. Adequate intake of a diet high in vitamin D and calcium should be consumed to prevent this problem as this will make the bone to be stronger. Also, moderate physical activities should be recommended as this will also help in maintaining bone strength.
“Swallowing and digestive reflexes have also been found to slow down with an increase in age. During this stage (at 95 years old), swallowing may be more difficult as the oesophagus contracts less forcefully. The flow of secretions that help in digesting the food in the stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine may also be reduced. The elderly should eat food in liquid form and smoothie for fruits and vegetables.”
