specific needs of children and elderly left behind as a ... - IOM Moldova

CHAPTER I
and his/her diet quality. Self-neglect and loss of appetite, motivated by
loneliness and sorrow, can lead to hunger of elderly. The weight loss of
the elderly is the clearest warning of inadequate nutrition. Here’s what
one of the experts of a focus-group says: “A lot of elderly do not take
care of themselves, do not cook, they wait for somebody to come to visit
them... that’s when they’ll cook. They lack any motivation and have no
interest in cooking” (FG_ EE_urban).
- Malnutrition. After the age of 50 it is recommended to reduce caloric
intake by 7-10% every 10 years. The elderly should have a correct diet
and observe the balance between protein, fat and carbohydrates and
reduce the amount of animal fat intake. Minerals and fluid intakes
are very important. The use of low diversity food, the lack of protein,
vitamins and other nutrients that are necessary for the human body,
may trigger the development of serious diseases, accelerate aging and
aggravate existing chronic diseases.
The interviews conducted with the elderly have revealed that only a few
have a proper diet and nutrition. A 63 year old lady living with a minor
grandson says: “There were cases when there was no food and I had no
money to buy anything and I borrowed 50 lei and I bought 0.5 liters of oil
and potatoes” (III_E_4).
A similar case was told by a 68 year old retired person who lives only on
her pension. Her daughters have been abroad for many years, without providing
any support. When asked about the quality of her food (meat, eggs,
butter), the woman answered: “Oh well… I already forgot the way they taste
and look like... We buy sometimes a piece of sausage, cheese... We also buy
sometimes fish, one of the cheapest, and fry it... We actually buy pork bard
because it’s cheaper, but not meat.... We buy margarine because it’s cheaper
than butter…” It has been proven that the elderly should significantly reduce
their intake of animal fats to reduce cholesterol in blood, which is a
determining factor for many diseases.
When the interviewer asked them why the wine glass was on the table,
the old lady said: “We drink because we’re sad” (III_E_15). The persons
left behind tend to use alcohol frequently, as some focus-group experts
claim. The feeling of uselessness and abandonment from their children,
the desire to escape loneliness makes the elderly seek relief in alcohol.
However, improper nourishment by the elderly, and especially the use of
alcohol, can seriously affect the health of these people, triggering serious
pathologies of all organs (cardio-vascular, nervous, digestive systems, etc.).
Some of the elderly who participated in the study confessed that they
would prefer to receive parcels with products rather than money, because
they know that most persons living alone prefer to buy alco-
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