Nutritional considerations for geriatric edentulous patients

Perfect diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of health throughout the entire course of life. Malnutrition is both a cause and a consequence of ill health. Geriatric population with long term medical and psyco-social problems are chronically underweight and so are vulnerable to acute illness. Even people who are well-nourished eat and drink less if they are ill or injured. Although this may only be short lived as a part of an acute problem. If it persists the person can become undernourished to an extent that it precipitates other medical conditions. Issues related to geriatric nutrition are extricable linked to certain broader issues facing the geriatric population. This article provides an overview of geriatric nutrition and related issues faced by this group of people. This review summarizes the changes in diet associated with senior group of people. Keywords: Diet, Nutrition, Malnutrition, Ill-health, Acute illness, Geriatric.