Latest news with #MandyFrench
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Food and nutrition for older adults
Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP, Family Medicine , Women's Health , Geriatrics , Integrative Medicine , Clinical Research , Jurisprudence , — Written by Mandy French on June 6, 2025 Nutrition needs Foods to eat Meal planning Sample menus Summary Food and nutritional needs can change as a person ages. Certain foods and vitamins are even more important for older adults. As a person ages, their nutritional needs and caloric intake requirements change. To meet these new needs, it is important for them to maintain a nutritious and balanced diet and reduce their portion sizes if their activity level has lowered. Eating a balanced diet and staying physically active can help support overall health as a person ages. As people age, their bodies change, and so do their nutritional needs. For example, the body naturally loses muscle mass and strength with age. This begins around their 40s and declines more rapidly in their 60s. Losing muscle can contribute to the slower rate at which the body uses calories. Bones also begin to thin as an individual ages. This, along with muscle loss, can contribute to a less active lifestyle. A person may also become less mobile and more sedentary. Certain medical conditions and medications can also make it more difficult for the body to absorb certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12. Older adults may need to consume more protein to help reduce the loss of lean muscle mass. It is also common for older adults to not drink enough fluids to stay hydrated. One cause of this is the gradual decline of the thirst sensation as they age. Therefore, older adults need to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated. Older adults typically need fewer calories than they did when they were younger. This is partly due to the loss of muscle mass, and a slower metabolism also contributes to this need. The following table shows the recommended caloric intake for people assigned male or female at birth who are ages 61 years old and older. This compares to the higher needs of adults assigned male or female at birth who are between the ages of 19 and 60 years old: Males: 2,200 to 3,000, depending on activity level 2,200 to 3,000, depending on activity level Females: 1,600 to 2,400, depending on activity level » Learn more: Foods that support aging Eating enough protein is important to help slow or prevent the natural loss of muscle that occurs with age. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) calculator can provide an exact recommendation for the amount of protein and other nutrients individuals need to consu me daily. While it can be helpful to find a personalized recommendation for protein intake, the following table shows a general daily recommendation for adults assigned male or female at birth who are 60 years old and older. » Learn more: High protein foods Eating enough fruits and vegetables is important to help prevent certain conditions and illnesses. Fruits and vegetables are also important sources of vital nutrients, such as: potassium fiber vitamin C folate vitamin A The following table shows the general daily fruit and vegetable intake recommendations for people assigned male or female at birth who are 60 years old and older. » Learn more: Fruits vs. vegetables It is important for older adults to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, help with digestion, and assist with the absorption of nutrients. They can also choose unsweetened beverages, such as 100% fruit or vegetable juice, low fat or fat-free milk, and fortified soy beverages. Dietary guidelines recommend that older adults limit their alcohol intake. These individuals may experience the effects of alcohol more easily than they did when they were younger, which can increase their risk of falls and other injuries. » Learn more: Symptoms of dehydration One reason some people may not get the amount of nutrition they need is that it is difficult to decide what to eat. Meal planning helps take the guesswork out of eating and ensures that people eat a variety of nutritious foods throughout the day. When considering meals to plan, an individual may want to keep the following in mind: Preparation time: Some meals can be made in just a few minutes. However, if a person enjoys cooking, they may want to try meals and recipes that are a bit more challenging. When planning a meal, consider the preparation time and anything else going on at the time. Some meals can be made in just a few minutes. However, if a person enjoys cooking, they may want to try meals and recipes that are a bit more challenging. When planning a meal, consider the preparation time and anything else going on at the time. Calories: Consuming the right amount of calories can help overall health and help a person maintain a moderate weight. Consider the amount of calories in the foods to be sure to get the right amount of nutrients. Always speak with a healthcare professional about any weight and fitness goals before making big changes. » Learn more: A guide to eating a balanced diet » Learn more: Healthy aging and why it is important As people age, their nutrition needs change, so it is important to ensure they eat a healthy and balanced diet. This can help reduce the risk of certain conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. It can also help prevent the natural muscle loss that occurs with age. It is important to eat a variety of foods from each food group and remember that caloric intake requirements generally reduce with age. A person can speak with a healthcare professional about ways to get the nutrition they need. Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Daily Mail
I was ostracised after I was wrongly accused of attacking two children... but it was my paedophile neighbour
A former care home manager has revealed how she was 'ostracised' by her community after she was wrongly arrested for injuring two teenagers with an air rifle - despite officers seizing a weapon from her neighbour as she was led away. Mandy French's nightmare began when she gently remonstrated with a group of boys who were playing on fragile sand dunes outside her home in the seaside town of Hemsby, Norfolk. Shortly afterwards, police descended on the area and she was arrested for shooting two of the boys, both aged 13 - one of whom needed hospital treatment. She remained under suspicion on police bail for three months until next-door neighbour Jason Davis, 51, a convicted paedophile, was arrested and charged for the offence. He has now been jailed for two years. Distraught Ms French, 55, said: 'Officers searched my house and took a replica blunderbuss musket-type pirate's gun, which used to be an ashtray, which they have now actually returned to me. 'But from the back of the [police] car, I saw them take the air rifle from Jason's house. But he was not arrested, something I will never understand.' She added: 'I was so ill with anxiety. I moved here because I wanted a quiet life. 'My health hasn't been great but this house was detached, in a quiet area, and suited my health needs both mentally and physically. But it has not turned out that way. 'I was bullied, ostracised in the village because everyone thought it was me still. 'I couldn't walk my dog Hendrix through the village anymore. I felt so alone but I am pleased the truth is finally out.' The bizarre incident happened last year on May 4, when locals spotted the boys playing on a spot that is at risk from coastal erosion and near an area where massive cliff falls have left homeowners worried about losing their properties. Locals also said the group had also been urinating in the area and bared their backsides when confronted. Speaking about it at the time, a weeping Ms French said: 'The only thing I did was shout at the kids for climbing up the dunes and being on top of the dunes. 'The children called me ''wibbly wobbly'' and shouted ''get your t****** out'', so I walked away.' She went inside her seafront home to contact nearby Richardson's Holiday Park where she understood the group, who were on a rugby tour, had been staying before going to speak with some friends. By the time she returned, two of the boys had been shot, unbeknown to Ms French. She said: 'When I got there, I saw all the police on the beach. I said to my friends I couldn't believe someone had called the police because I had a bit of a go at some children.' 'When I was arrested, I genuinely didn't think there had been a shooting. I was in disbelief and astonishment and so confused.' Ms French, who used to be care manager at a day centre, was driven to a police station - despite seeing officers take an air rifle from Davis's house - and grilled about the incident before being released on bail. Both of the injured boys were treated by paramedics at the scene, with one later taken to hospital by his parents and released the same day. It wasn't until July that Davis was arrested and he was charged on September 15. He appeared at Norwich Crown Court on February 21 this year – although no details were released by the police at the time, which Ms French said meant locals still thought she was to blame. Davis admitted possession of a firearm when prohibited and two counts of battery in relation to the boys he shot. He was also sentenced for two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which were unrelated to the dunes incident. Davis was jailed for two years in February but Ms French said police didn't publicise the case, meaning locals weren't aware she had been cleared on any involvement in the shooting of the two 13-year-old boys Davis's Alsatian, Rufus, had to be rescued from his home after he was jailed as neighbours said it was left for days at a time and could be heard 'crying and yelping' The court heard his criminal record dated back decades and included a 2003 conviction with a 12-year jail term imposed at Northampton Crown Court. This was for the systematic sexual abuse of three youths in Daventry, Northamptonshire, and Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, over a five-year period in the 1990s. A jury found him guilty of nine attempted rapes, eight indecent assaults and an act of gross indecency. Ms French claimed Davis had tried to blame her for the shooting and she had been 'taunted' about it in the village. 'I just felt like I was on my own and nobody cared and nobody believed me,' she said. 'It's horrible to think people believed I would do that.' Sixteen years later, on March 1, 2023, any remaining grass was long gone and some of the homes had sand up to their front door Davis's dog had to be rescued from his home earlier this month, following neighbours' concerns that it had been neglected since he was jailed. He was understood to have made arrangements for the Alsatian, called Rufus, to be fed, watered and walked while he served his time. But locals claimed he was left alone for days at a time and could be heard 'crying and yelping'. An RSPCA spokeswoman said: 'We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us.' Norfolk Police told MailOnline they 'don't have any record of a complaint' about Ms French's treatment, including her arrest. A spokeswoman added: 'If any member of the public is unhappy with the way an officer or member of staff has behaved, or wishes to make a complaint about the police, we would always encourage them to share their concerns with us directly.'
