The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in older adults has steadily risen over the past two decades. Inflammatory bowel disease refers to several conditions, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and is usually related to inflammation in the intestines causing cramping and pain and also diarrhea or constipation with mucous and/or pus that may also appear yellowish green or even black in color around the tip of the colon or small area of the large intestine section called the sigmoid flexure. The management of CD in the elderly population is more complex due to comorbidities, polypharmacy, impaired mobility, and surgical candidacy criteria.

There is evidence that systemic immunosuppression does not improve mortality among the elderly IBD patients as compared to younger counterparts unless there is no contraindication to treatment and the indication is for control of symptoms rather than /or active treatment with steroids using high dose immunosuppressive therapy targeting both inflammation and gut bacteria leading to depletion of antioxidants in the body such as alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q. It’s normal for older people to experience a change in appetite that leads them to eat less.

But it’s especially important that people with Crohn’s disease eat enough calories. It’s also critical that they have foods rich in nutrients but low in fiber because they cannot tolerate high-fiber food that may cause pain in the gut and can interfere with the absorption of certain drugs they also take to treat their condition. To help boost or keep up their caloric intake, it is recommended to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, rather than the traditional three large meals. Furthermore it’s important to avoid caffeine as well as junk foods loaded with sugar and refined carbohydrates that often cause bloating and gas which usually makes these problems worse for both the elderly patients and most especially those who are already suffering from some gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome which is another intestinal disorder that has been on the rise.

According to caregivers like those at carltonseniorliving.com/community/concord/, older people with Crohn’s should also be monitored for common nutrient deficiencies, which may happen because reduced stomach-acid production can affect the absorption of nutrients such as calcium and iron. Because of the social stigmas that still exist with regard to illnesses like Crohn’s mainly among the senior citizens who feel they have to suffer in silence and just grin-and bear it so to speak. The only signs of discomfort they convey to others are when they experience gas pains, kidney stones, or when flare ups are overwhelming to the extent that the realization of the need to get help by any means possible becomes all the more acute and necessary in order to seek appropriate help. According to associates like Nephrology & Hypertension Medical Associates, when they feel something they should get it checked since their Crohn’s disease may be causing acute kidney failure or electrolyte abnormalities.