This blog post is going to be a mix of information and some humour with my experience working with residents in LTC (Long-term Care) and their favourite supplements.

Picture by MermaidsWhimsy

Pros and Cons of liquid supplements

Liquid supplements like Ensure® and Boost® are a great way to get extra nutrition, not just for the elderly, but for anyone in general who wants a quick meal replacement, or some extra calories in their diet. I myself take Boost® because I’m not that much of a big eater and would like to NOT be calorie-deficient. So, while this is great, there is a bit of a problem with these liquid supplements that most people don’t touch on. I mean, most medical experts know, but what I’m talking about is the sugar content. Liquid supplements seem like a great fix, but some people need to watch that sugar content, or it will lead to other problems you don’t need. This was one reason why I had to cut back. In my family, diabetes runs rampant on both sides; it was doing more damage than good. It made me think about what damage it will have on seniors, though they need those extra calories to sustain life.

If someone is already diabetic, they have liquid supplements that are made especially for them, like Glucerna® or any other sugarless substitute. They do have a low-sugar one, but you barely see it used in the nursing home. So, I did some research, and Boost® has more sugar than Ensure®.

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Loaded sugar content

Here is a breakdown of both supplements and their sugar content:

Ensure® – Regular	Boost® – Regular
Sugar 18g	Sugar 15g

The daily sugar intake should be 25–36 grams. So, a lot of those liquid supplements are pretty much hitting that daily sugar mark. Ensure you get at least 18%, and what’s scary, people drink three of those a day. Your blood sugar levels would rise higher than a rocket ship. I guess it’s to give it taste, but some of those supplements taste like chalk. The more sugar dumped in them, the more people will like drinking them; these companies know it, too. Geritol, an iron and vitamin liquid supplement, has the daily recommended sugar consumption. If you are a diabetic, it would not suit you to drink it. What I have noticed though, in the last year or so, is that some companies are making light versions of their drink. They are making less-sugar versions and slowly rolling them out. The long-term care homes are still using the regular versions; hopefully, there will be a change and they’ll start to bring in shipments of the lighter versions.

In the end, it’s what the people want, and they want something with vitamins that doesn’t taste like a chalky milkshake.

Some light humour

During my time in Long-term care, what I have noticed is that the residents really love their supplements. It’s to the point that if they don’t get it in time, they would almost riot. Their favourite one was Ensure. I’m guessing because of the sweet taste, seeing how that one has the most sugar. Many times, if the nursing staff was late with supplementing, it was a yelling match. Now, I’ve tried both, and I prefer Boost. Those of us on the younger side just need a quick fix (which is not that healthy, I know). Ensure tends to settle to the bottom, and you are drinking a big gelatinous glob of mush. Another reason could be that the older you get, sometimes your taste buds are not as strong, so the globby taste doesn’t bother the residents.

If it’s not Ensure, it’s the raisin bread, another sweet treat. I almost had a whole dining room riot because we ran out. The shipment didn’t come in time. I do miss those times working in the home, but I’ve switched careers. From time to time, I still think of my residence. I know some have passed on, but it was an interesting and fun experience. Though I still like learning about nutrition. So, it might be something to consider in the future. The world is changing at a fast past and who knows what the future of liquid supplements will be like in 60 years. Maybe they can make something that tastes better, but that is some wishful thinking. I’m pretty sure humans will have longevity, and there won’t be any need for vitamins.