protein deficiency
Malnutrition due to protein deficiency among the elderly and vulnerable is a growing problem that results in reduced or absent recovery when health deteriorates. Among elderly people living at home, 12% are malnourished and among those who use home care, this figure is even 35% [1]. Of patients admitted to hospital for treatment, up to 38% have symptoms of malnutrition [2]. Malnourished elderly people can lose weight due to illness or surgery, or due to loss of appetite, social isolation, poverty and illness. The Health Council focuses specifically on malnutrition as a result of protein deficiency and insufficient energy intake [3].
Malnutrition due to protein deficiency in the elderly is a growing problem, the extent of which is insufficiently known among many health care providers and informal caregivers. In this context, PLINT Malnutrition was started to remove the reluctance to act among healthcare providers and to increase knowledge and skills in this area in home care.
If there is insufficient appetite, protein intake from a regular diet according to the five-wheel diet is often insufficient. Patients therefore have difficulty maintaining weight and muscle mass. Reducing portions and serving a small meal or snack more often per day can ensure that more is eaten. This means less has to be thrown away.
In many cases, more is needed to get the desired 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day. Administering protein-rich snacks appears to be an effective way to give the elderly and vulnerable an extra protein boost and thus increase daily intake. After all, eating much more is difficult, especially if you don't exercise much. But eating more protein does appear to be effective. Fabafull makes a responsible contribution to this with its plant-based, protein-rich muffins full of building blocks.
[1] Schilp J. et al, (2012) High prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch community-dwelling older individuals. Nutrition. 28; 1151-1156.
[2] M. van den Berg, FoodforCare program Radboud university medical center.
[3] Stafleu, A. and Postma-Smeets, A., Factsheet elderly people and nutrition, (2017) Voedingscentrum.nl.