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.
- If you want to learn more Caregiving Strategies, register for the online course. 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 RGPO about resources for caregivers and or upcoming online course offerings.