In the UK we generally suffer from a Vitamin D deficiency especially in the winter months. An elderly family member is likely to suffer if they are spending less time outdoors in the summer too. The UK recommended dose of Vitamin D taken either in food or as a supplement is approx 10 micrograms per day although recent research does suggest increasing this dose to 15 micrograms for those under 71 and 20 micrograms for those over 71.
It is clear that Vitamin D improves older adults mental health but also has significant benefits in promoting bone health.
Falls are one of the most prevalent issues for older adults and assessing any safety measures (for example regular review of medication with your GP) and general safety measures around the home are essential.
In the unfortunate event of having a fall strong bones through increased calcium and Vitamin D intake is can significantly reduce the risk of fractures. In recent American Medical Association analysis of 49,000 participants found that the elderly with sufficient calcium and Vitamin D intake reduced the risk of hip fractures by 16%.
Great sources of vitamin D included most oily fish, white mushrooms or a simple daily vitamin supplement.
