Understanding the Basics of Nutrition for People with Disabilities

Abstract

A certain percentage of individuals in any society have disabilities, which can be further complicated by the presence of disease. This can create additional burdens in their lives, making it essential to provide them with adequate attention and satisfactory care to alleviate their difficulties. Good nutrition, both in terms of quantity and quality, is an important factor in human life. This article serves as a reminder of the basics of healthy nutrition for all individuals while also highlighting the challenges related to nutrition for those with disabilities and disease conditions. Research has shown that people with disabilities and chronic diseases are often malnourished. For patients who have difficulty with swallowing and/or have gastrointestinal disorders, nutrition support therapy in the form of enteral or parenteral nutrition must be employed. This article includes a brief description of the tubes that are used in artificial feeding. Decisions on tube feeding should be made carefully, taking into consideration the quality of life on a case-by-case basis. Oral nutritional supplements can be used to provide all essential nutrients based on the type of disability and medical condition. There is a need for more research concerning the area of nutrition for individuals with disabilities, and specialized training of involved healthcare professionals is a necessity. From a public health perspective, raising awareness about all types of disabilities among families, educators, healthcare providers, and the public should be a priority.