Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Healthy living is certainly everyone’s dream, including those who are elderly (elderly people). When a person ages, there are physical changes that lead to a deterioration in condition.
This usually starts from the outside such as the skin and face, followed by changes in the body, such as a decrease in the work of organs that can affect the quality of health.
In order to maintain their health, it is necessary to maintain daily nutritional intake for the elderly. Clinical nutrition specialist and nutrition science lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Fiastuti Witjaksono, said proper nutrition is not only to help maintain health and reduce the incidence of chronic disease.
“Daily nutrition which contains protein, fiber, Omega-3 and 6, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is very important to maintain the health of the elderly, especially to keep the elderly active,” he said, as quoted. Among.
Fiastuti reminded that older people, especially those aged over 60 years, tend to be more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies and various other nutritional problems, even to the point of experiencing malnutrition.
Therefore, the family needs to ensure that the elderly get the daily nutrition they need. The daily nutrition of these elderly people can be fulfilled by consuming more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish.
The elderly are also advised to consume additional nutrients such as milk because it is easy to digest, especially milk which is rich in protein, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, calcium and fiber.
Internal medicine specialist, sub-specialist geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (FKUI-RSCM), Siti Setiati, added a number of suggestions so that the elderly can live healthy lives while also emphasizing the importance of routine checks at least once a year.
Siti, who is also the Chairperson of the Indonesian Medical Gerontology Association (PERGEMI), said that this examination is an effort to prevent the disease that may be suffered by the elderly from getting worse.
“Elderly usually experience at least 5-10 types of health problems. Starting from pneumonia, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cataracts, to sarcopenia / decreased muscle mass. Moreover, exposure to free radicals can also accelerate / worsen the aging process,” he said.
Furthermore, he said, “In addition, there are also psychological disorders such as dementia, depression and decreased functional capacity to the point of needing caregivers. For this reason, it is recommended that the elderly carry out routine checks at least once a year.”
Not only that, Siti also advised the elderly to stay active through regular exercise. The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated the concept of active aging, as a process of optimizing health opportunities, participation and safety in order to improve the quality of life as we get older.
This means that all people can and need to create an environment that allows a person to continue to be active and healthy, and to function optimally physically, socially, and psychologically in their daily life, regardless of their age.
(Between/agn)
– .
