81 year-old, female, who lives alone in public housing and who makes financial ends meet on a fixed income comes into the Nutrition Wellness Center today, seeking a nutritional assessment and counseling. Miss E has some health concerns and complains of difficulties to chew and swallow, tiredness and weakness and sudden weight loss. Client states that she is currently not taking any medications but wonders if she should be taking a daily vitamin supplement due to her recent health status. Miss E currently lives alone and lacks the support from family and friends. She lives in an apartment that is equipped with a two-unit cook top for a stove and a small refrigerator and very little storage space. Due to her fixed-income, Miss. E shops twice …show more content…
Chronic disease can be a major contributor. Many diseases, such as cardiac disease, renal impairment, and malignancy contribute to inflammation that can lead to significant loss of muscle mass.8 In addition; many diseases may prompt the prescription of restrictive diets that may not always be necessary. Overly restrictive diets may be unpalatable or difficult to follow, leading to a decline in oral intake and, eventually, malnutrition.9 Functional status changes that limit ability to perform activities of daily living such as cooking and shopping can impact an older adult's dietary intake. Significant psychosocial changes that also may occur with aging (e.g., depression or simply eating alone), as with the loss of a spouse, can lead to a dramatic decrease in oral intake. Changes in finances also can impact the ability to purchase adequate food” (Malnutrition In Older Adults - Today's Dietitian Magazine, 2017). I believe nutrient deficiencies that Miss E is lacking in her diet are nutrients of Calcium, Iron, Vitamin B, D, Fiber and Potassium in which affects the development and overall good health of older adults. Older adults need more calcium and vitamin D to help maintain …show more content…
Increasingly in the diet/disease debate, the role that micronutrients play in promoting health and preventing noncommunicable disease is receiving considerable attention. Micronutrient deficiencies are often common in elderly people due to a number of factors such as their reduced food intake and a lack of variety in the foods they eat. Another factor is the price of foods rich in micronutrients, which further discourages their consumption. Compounding this situation is the fact that the older people often suffer from decreased immune function, which contributes to this group’s increased morbidity and mortality. Other significant age-related changes include the loss of cognitive function and deteriorating vision, all of which hinder good health and dietary habits in old age”(Nutrition for older persons, 2017). After assessing Miss E’s physical, socioeconomic and psychological conditions that are affecting her nutritional status today, I would recommend that she apply for a nutritional program called SNAP through the state to alleviate some of her struggles with purchasing better quality foods for health. In addition, as her nutritionist assistant I would design a suitable five-day meal plan for Miss. E to start on of 1600
A Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was completed on Anne. The MNA is a tool used to provide a rapid assessment of elderly patients’ nutritional status. The MNA is made up of simple measurements and a few brief questions that can be completed by the patient in no more than ten minutes. The nutritional status of a patient is evaluated using a two-step process to accurately determine a patient’s nutritional status (McGee
When residents have been allowed to participate in their diet decisions, they have been found to have increased appetites and enjoyment of food, both of which are equated with quality of life. Alternatively, strict diets have been shown to result in lower intakes leading to weight loss and undernutrition. (Dorner, Niedert, & Welch, 2002). Offering a wide variety of foods with 24/7 access to allows active participation in choosing their own diet. Eliza Jennings homes were assured resident health was not compromised as a result of person-centered care by performing regular Accu-Checks and other diagnostic checks to monitor the health of the residents (“Case Studies in Person-Directed Care”,
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Caregivers." Senior Health: How to Prevent and Detect Malnutrition. N.p., 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Eating nutritious food may seem simple enough, but to those that hardly get by financially, affording healthy foods can be a major hindrance. This is proven by Dr. Jim Levine, a researcher with a concentration of the link between poverty and obesity. He is quoted stating, “In many poverty-dense regions, people are… unable to access affordable healthy food, even when funds avail.” (Sifferlin 1) For example, further studies show that the average cost of salad is $1.50 more than the average cost of a hamburger. Getting vitamins and minerals from the food we eat is substantial to survive in everyday life. Annually, it costs five hundred and fifty dollars more to eat healthier. Five hundred and fifty dollars may not seem like much, but to those that have low income, it is a crucial amount. While achieving a healthy diet proves to be necessary to maintain a healthy weight, it is almost inaccessible for those with low income. Low-income individuals confront the barrier of the cost of healthier choices in their everyday
For instance, there have been several nutritional interventions implemented in health care facilities. Specifically, screening can be effective in health care facilities to aid in identifying poor nutrition among the elderly, which is often undetected. Additionally, screening tools has been used to establish appropriate nutritional meals. One study by researchers Babineau, Jolyne, Villalon, Laporte, Manon, & Payette (2008) showed that the introduction of screening in a general hospital raised awareness of nutrition-related care. In this intervention dietitians conducts a full nutritional assessment and implemented a nutritional care plan for patients aged 65 or older (Babineau et al., 2008). The nutrition care program included nutritional screening, timely intervention, and close dietitian
In conclusion, It is therefore important that all healthcare workers involved in direct patient care should appreciate the value of providing their patients with adequate nutritional education and be familiar with the possibilities for providing nutrition support if needed for example Meals on Wheels that provides nutritious meals to home bound older adults who are unable to prepare meals for themselves and have no one able and/or willing to provide meals for them as this organization does uses a balanced nutritious meal that meets USDA recommended daily dietary
The purpose of writing this paper is to discuss the pros and cons of my diet. The nutritional analysis have thought me that my choices are not terrible but they are not the beast. However, a healthy lifestyle is necessary if I want to enjoy this life without health complications. Always Including some form of vegetable, fruits, and carbohydrates in my diet is ideal. However, that may not be on a regular basis and the portion might be too small to make a difference or too much to cause harm. I have learned how many grams of fat, saturated fat and protein should be consumed per day by my body.
Nutrition is essential to human’s life, but still people need to take care the quantity and quality necessitated. Most research studies agreed the way e...
Whitney, E., Debruyne, L. K., Pinna, K., & Rolfes, S. R. (2011). Nutrition for health and health
it can be very hard for those depending on assistance programs to incorporate healthier, whole, and unprocessed food into their diets. For many that have relied on this assistance for years it is a matter of an incorrect assumption. There is a postulation that processed foods are cheaper and more filling alternatives to healthy food. One study recently quoted in “Fruits, Vegetables Cheaper than Unhealthy Snacks” compared...
Proper nutrition is important in maintaining a long and healthy life. Most Americans are rushed due to their busy work schedules, and do not take the time to plan their diets properly. Like me, most Americans are unaware of the importance of eating a healthy diet and consume too many foods without the proper nutrients. Throughout my life I have been fortunate. I have not had any major health problems, and have been able to consume most foods without having to worry about gaining weight. These last two years, however, I started to gain weight and have become concerned with my diet. Changing my poor eating habits has been difficult for me, however, having this assignment has taught me that it is not as difficult as I previously imagined.
Nutrition assessments include clinical and dietary assessment, anthropometrics, as well as biochemical, laboratory immunologic and functional indices of nutritional status (Gibney, 2005). In epidemiological studies, different dietary investigation tools were designed to assess the nutritional status in individuals and populations, nutrition monitoring and surveillance and diet-disease research (Friedenreich, et al., 1992, Taren, 2002).
Today, more and more people pay attention to healthy lifestyle. People are not only concerned about whether you can eat, people are more concerned about whether you eat healthy. People attach so much importance in the diet of healthy, they understand the nutritional value of things is even more important. Only specific understanding of the nutritional value of food can only be a better choice for their own healthy living. But a lot of people for some very common nutritional value of foods often have a wrong understanding. I think that people in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle before, should pay attention to the nutritional value of different foods.
Department of Health & Human Services defines nutritional assessment as: “measurement of indicators of dietary status & nutrition-related health status to identify the possible occurrence, nature, & extent of impaired nutritional status,” which can range from deficiency to toxicity” (Nnakwe, N. E., 2018). Tools to help assess will include anthropometric, biochemical test, clinical/physical observations, dietary intake data, and epidemiological information. I should be able to identify and label specific nutrition problems that can be independently resolved or improved through nutrition intervention. I will look at the etiology and the signs/symptoms are determined during the nutrition
Being a nurse, mother, and a Pre-med student has impacted my health to a degree that falls on the negative side of wellness. A personal goal that needs to bring about change in my personal daily routine is the adding of fruits and vegetables to my snacks every day. This new food plan will included two double size portions of vegetables and on double size portion of fruit. The required need for this change in daily food routine has come about due to the noticeable change in lack of energy, concentration, and overall health.