The lockdown has not been a pleasurable experience for our elders. Nobody wants to be stuck at home, especially stuck at home for over a year and banned from entering establishments.
Health experts have raised concerns about the dangers isolation could pose to seniors’ mental and physical state. An associate professor of psychiatry at Stanford University said, long duration of sheltering in place had led to feeling of sadness and hopelessness among older adults.
"If our senior adults are weak, they become prone to infection."
Aside from loneliness possibly affecting their appetite, their being not allowed to go out and walk around and stretch their muscles can weaken their bodies and make them susceptible to illnesses.
A study, entitled “Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people”, discussed the possibility of low muscle mass among aging adults. Poor diet and reduced physical activity can lead to sarcopenia, a condition associated with the gradual loss of muscle mass. Its symptoms include weakness and loss of stamina.
In Singapore, Changi General Hospital, SingHealth Polyclinics, and Abbott conducted the SHIELD study on oral nutritional supplements for older adults at risk of malnutrition. SHIELD stands for Strengthening Health in ELDerly through nutrition.
The results of the study were shared by Agnes Tey, senior scientist and Shield lead author, during the Ensure Gold Shield Sessions: A Dialogue on Healthy Aging, Inside and Out.
“Assessing the nutritional status of the older persons is pivotal to their muscle health, making a big difference in their quality of life,” said Tey.
In the study, she shared that the group that consumed the supplement that contains beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) showed improvements in overall health.
HMB is a metabolite of amino acid leucine. It improves muscle strength by reducing protein breakdown.
In the study, the group that had HMB showed a weight gain of at least 5 percent and enhanced physical function like increased leg and hand grip strength.
“Muscle strength is not just for mobility, it has a metabolic function. It improves the body’s immune system. If our senior adults are weak they become prone to infection,” explained Dr. Jose Dimaano, Jr. nutrition medical director of Abbott Asia Pacific.
Muscles produce and release compounds which play an important role in the activation of some immune cells. And the loss of muscle mass has also been linked to compromised immunity and infections.
Regular exercise and good nutrition help keep our muscles in good condition. Strength training that can be done at home is a good start. There also fun exercises on YouTube, but make sure to seek medical advice before starting any program.
Family members must also pay close attention to the eating habits of the senior adults in the household. “Nutrition is fundamental. Abbott has been researching the impact of nutrition in adults for more than 45 years. The latest clinical research on aging confirms that oral supplements with HMB together with dietary guidance, can help improve nutritional status, mobility, strength, and immunity of older adults,” emphasized Dr. Dimaano.
Aside from exercise and proper diet, Dr. Sandy Dumlao, president of the Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology advises families to find ways to spend time with their senior loved ones.
“If they do not live in the same house, maybe we can have ‘Zoom meals’ with them so that the grandchildren can talk to their lolo and lola while eating.”
Finding activities to make them productive and happy can ease their worries about the pandemic. “If they like to cook, maybe we can ask them to prepare their specialty dishes. We should encourage them to be productive, so that they feel needed,” advised Dr. Dumlao.