Nutritional challenges in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT It has been documented that the older adults of the population are at the greatest risk of mortality due to the coronavirus disease;consequently, they could be the population most affected by the measures of social isolation and reduction of virus contagion implemented worldwide Social isolation can expose older adults to an increased nutritional risk due to factors such as socioeconomic insecurity, which could affect food acquisition and the need for support in daily tasks and meals The institutionalized older adults often depend on food donations, which may have reduced due the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, and the aging process itself causes changes in nutritional necessitie and eating habits In the coronavirus pandemic, nutritionists and dietitians can offer remote nutritional follow-up Moreover, the government actions, such as the implementation of educational and social service programs, should be applied to support healthy aging and minimize exposure to nutritional risks and coronavirus disease para mortalidade por COVID-19 Consequentemente, pode ser a mais afetada pelas medidas de isolamento social e de reducao de contagio pelo virus implementadas em todo o mundo O isolamento social pode expor os idosos ao risco nutricional aumentado devido a alguns fatores, como: a inseguranca socioeconomica, a qual pode afetar a aquisicao de alimentos;a necessidade de apoio nas tarefas e nas refeicoes diarias;a possivel reducao de doacoes de alimentos para idosos institucionalizados, em virtude da crise economica ocasionada pela pandemia;e o proprio processo do envelhecimento, que causa alteracoes das necessidades nutricionais e do habito de se alimentar Contudo, no contexto da pandemia do novo coronavirus, nutricionistas podem oferecer acompanhamento nutricional remoto Alem disso, acoes governamentais, como a implementacao de programas educacionais e de servico social, devem ser aplicadas para o envelhecimento saudavel e para a minimizacao da exposicao ao risco nutricional e a COVID-19