SUGAR INTAKE FOR THE ELDERLY

I am so concerned that there are Care facilities for the Frail and Aged around the country where sugar intake is being limited. Many of these people have little appetite so the main consideration is adequate intake of nutrients. It isn’t as if they need to kick a sugar habit. Probably it is only their sweet taste buds that are still functioning well. Many medications either make the mouth dry so they have difficulty tasting anything or affect the brain’s reward system. I asked at one facility why they were given just a dry sandwich for tea instead of something sweet – perhaps a piece of stewed fruit or a nice pudding – perhaps a sticky hot pudding of some sort or perhaps a bread and butter pudding of fruits in season. I was told the staff  were very vigilant of the old people’s sugar intake. Why? There is absolutely no evidence to show that in the frail and underweight that is contraindicated. On the contrary, sugar is a good source of energy for these people. It is not as if these people had a weight control problem.

Even if they had a sugar addiction, that would be a plus. Sometimes this need for some taste in their otherwise bland food is misinterpreted as a sugar addiction. Many studies have shown that if the people in these facilities are given food which they can enjoy, their mood changes and they are pleasant and friendly towards the world.

I suggest that if you are visiting someone in a frail aged facility, bring them something very sweet. Either very ripe fruit, cake or biscuits or something more ambitious like ice-cream or a packet of sweets. And a bottle of cordial or fruit drink will encourage a better fluid intake. Fruit juice has a short shelf life! A higher sugar content drink is better left behind. If this is a concern to you, bring a fresh fruit juice with you to be consumed before you leave.

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