Show I Doctorin Doctor in the Kitchen by W. W WW W. W Bauer Bluer Mo Consultant National Dairy Iry Council NUTRITION NEWS FOR THE ELDERLY Is there anything new nutritionally nutritionally nutritionally speaking for the growing number of older persons What is the state of their nutrition What if anything needs to be bedone bedone bedone done about it What can b be done Dr Donald F. F Watkin of the National Institutes of Health offers offers of of- fers his suggestions in inthe the Journal Journal Journal Jour Jour- nal of the American Public Health Association for April 1965 Essentially he sees a need for making better use of existing I knowledge to keep the aging body tuned up so to speak as one tries to keep an automobile in tune to prolong its life and promote promote promote pro pro- mote smooth operation Newer Knowledge He lie points out that the newer knowledge of nutrition especially that of the amino ammo acids and basic research in genetics offers opportunity opportunity opportunity op op- for helping to conserve the body during earlier life and thus deliver it it so to speak to the later years in better condition He lIe warns that this new knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge is limited as yet but may offer temptation to quacks and charlatans always active in the lucrative food field to outrun the scientists and offer people a a spurious siren call of youth to those who have made a poor adjustment ad 84 to aging t Eat More 1 S Sensibly n 11 Essentially j best w we can can cando do today with knowledge at hand isto is isto isto to teach and if 11 possible to m motivate motivate moti moti- tI- tI vate people earlier years to live and eat more sensibly Uan as U asan asan an investment in better health for forthe forthe forthe the future Health workers physicians nurses and nutritionists nutritionists' recognize recognize recognize nize as Dr Watkin points out that nutrition among our elder citizens leaves much t to be desired Older persons often have defective defective defective de de- teeth or none which keeps them from from eating eatIng a normal diet They may be too poor to afford a good diet and too Independent to ask for help They may live alone and be unable or unwilling to exert themselves sufficiently to get and prepare food They may suffer from digestive disturb disturb- ances In many instances they harbor long established poor dietetic dietetic dietetic die die- habit patterns or prejudices which grow more deeply rooted with age Caring For Oldsters The principal challenge to those Y who sego o axe are are responsible for aging persons especially those whose advanced age illness or senility interfere with self care is to apply the established nutritional principles with new vigor and skill For the shut shut-in communities may need meals on wheels programs to supply at least one hot meal a day pl plus s a 4 well-planned well snack In the home the problem is to offer food that tempts and to endeavor en en- deavor to overcome the handicaps which interfere with Its ts accept pt ance nce and consumption The job is 13 abig aig one and it will grow as the number of older pe persons jn increases rease year by 1 year ar |