2023-05-21 09:30:56
An article by Dr. Mª José Jiménez Cebrián, Regional Medical Coordinator of ORPEA
Surely it is not the first time that we hear the popular phrase of “we are what we eat” and in part something is right, since if in the different stages of life nutrition and physical exercise They contribute to maintaining an optimal state of health, the more relevance they acquire in successful, active and healthy aging.
We consider that a person is older when they reach the age of 65, the age at which they already suffer a process of physiological aging understanding this as a physiological and irreversible process associated with age, which causes changes in the structure and function of the different systems, with an alteration of the adaptive responses of the organism and increases the individual’s vulnerability to environmental stress and disease.
Together with this type of aging, the pathological aging and that dictates changes in organs and systems due to accelerated aging due to pathologies and environmental factors. That is why we can talk about various types of elderly, the healthy, the pre-frail, the frail and the geriatric patient, depending on their state of health.
Today there is sufficient scientific evidence to affirm that it is possible to significantly reduce the prevalence, incidence and intensity of the disease and with it disability and dependency of the old man
We can modulate the way of aging by enjoying a active agingwhich could be defined as aging in good health, thus delaying dependency and being more protagonists of our lives, thereby improving quality of life, if we adjust our diet and exercise to age.
Regarding the dietIn the elderly there are nutrients that are essential and therefore must be increased. The main difference in nutritional requirements in the elderly is found in the protein intake and some micronutrients.
And adequate supply of protein It is essential to maintain and recover muscle tissue (especially in sarcopenia), maintain cardiovascular functions, improve bone health, help recover from debilitating chronic diseases and help heal skin lesions (UPP and surgical wounds).
Micronutrients such as vitamin D and calcium acquire special relevance, the latter, apart from building and maintaining bone structure, is involved in muscle contraction, transport in cell membranes, blood coagulation, nerve transmission and the regulation of the heartbeat.
At ORPEA we are especially sensitive to the nutrition of our elderly and attending to the model of care centered on the elderlywe have developed our own hyperproteic diet called HP -20a diet that we prescribe after carrying out an exhaustive comprehensive geriatric assessment periodically, which includes nutritional, frailty, functionality and cognitive assessment tests.
Apart from the nutritional factors indicated, there are mechanical factors, which condition the maintenance of strength and muscle mass, being fundamental for the maintenance of functional independence; precisely at this point is where the importance of exercise comes into play.
We must differentiate between physical activity, understood as activities that make the body move, such as gardening, taking the dog for a walk, dancing, going up and down stairs, and exercises themselves, which are specifically physical activity. planned, structured and repetitive, such as the use of weights, tai chi, or aerobics table.
Both physical activity and exercises can help improve abilities to perform daily activities and cardiovascular health. On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle increases mortality.
Regarding the effectiveness of the exercises, the balance and flexibility exercises and above all the strength or resistance exerciseshave shown to be effective in the frail elderly to increase muscle strength, prevent and treat frailty in the elderly, decrease the risk and rate of falls, maintain or increase bone mineral density, prevent and treat metabolic syndrome by reducing fat , including abdominal and reduce insulin resistance.
For all these reasons, at ORPEA we attach special importance to the comprehensive geriatric assessment carried out by all the professionals involved in the care of our elderly, which assesses the nutritional, functional and cognitive status, as well as the functional reserves, without forgetting the true protagonist and focusing on the resident, who with his testimony and life story , will help us draw up a care plan that includes adapting diet and exercise to the needs, tastes and abilities, establishing therapies and a type of diet that favor active aging and with it the self-esteem and quality of life of our residents .
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