Final answer:
Elderly individuals may face challenges to their nutritional intake due to age-related physiological changes, dental problems, chronic diseases, and a lack of nutrition education, all of which can lead to malnutrition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Four problems that may affect an elderly person's nutritional intake are:
- Age-related physiological changes: As individuals age, they experience changes in their digestive system, such as a reduced sense of taste and smell, decreased saliva production, loss of teeth, and difficulty swallowing. These factors can make eating less enjoyable and lead to poor appetite.
- Dental problems: Poor oral health can significantly impact the ability to eat. Issues like painful or loose teeth may cause the elderly to avoid certain foods, which can result in malnutrition.
- Chronic diseases: Conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, and psychiatric illnesses such as anorexia can lead to a lack of appetite or problems with digesting food properly.
- Lack of nutrition education: Many individuals may not have adequate knowledge about proper nutrition. Regardless of economic status, this lack of education can lead to diets that lack essential nutrients, contributing to malnutrition.
Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach that includes promoting oral health, education on balanced diets, and appropriate medical support for chronic illnesses to enhance the quality of life and nutrition among the elderly.