Nutrition in Elderly - Essay Example

? Nutrition in elderly Nutrition in the elderly is an important issue that requires consideration in the field of healthcareand nursing. The nutritional requirements of an individual changes with age and these changes should be understood for the elderly. This understanding will assist in providing knowledge with regard to the needs of this group and assist in overcoming malnutrition in this age group. A large number of the ageing population of the United States resides in nursing homes and they are undernourished. This population requires greater care as there are many reasons that lead to malnutrition in the elderly. These include different pathological conditions that restrict their dietary intake. The nutritional requirements of the elderly need to be assessed and explained so that this group of the population can be catered and the prevalence of malnutrition amongst the elderly can be reduced. Nutrition in Elderly Elderly people are subjected to the dilemma of malnutrition. Furthermore, efforts have been made to give them sufficient nutritional balance but there are still many hurdles that have stopped this process. First of all, the nutritional requirements of the elderly are sometimes not very well described. As the basal metabolic rate and lean body mass both decline as one grows old, the energy requirement of an older person per kilogram of his or her body weight also reduces. This process of ageing also adversely affects the different nutrient needs of the human body. For instance, as the requirements for some of the nutrients reduce over time, data suggests that other essential nutrients’ needs might further increase when a person gets old. Therefore, there is a pressing need to reconsider the currently recommended every day nutrient allowances for the elderly group. Additionally, there is a rising demand all across the world for guidelines by WHO which are capable to urge the national authorities to highlight the nutritional needs of the increasing elderly populations all over the world (BBC, 2012). Nutrition in elderly is therefore an important issue in nursing that needs to be understood as the nutritional requirements of the elderly are different from the other age groups. 1. Background Of The Issue a.) History Almost more than 1.4 million Americans who are above the age of sixty five reside in nursing homes according to the data collected by Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging in 2008. Nutrition does play a vital role in encouraging the health of elderly occupants of the nursing homes. Comprehending the facts about how these nursing homes cater the dietary and nutritional needs of their people can assist one in learning what to expect from them and also to look for a nursing home in the future (World Health Organization, 2012). b.) Advice for Interested People many federal and state regulations are there to help restrict serious nutrition problems from taking place in the nursing homes; but one should plan on taking a practical approach for the monitoring of the nutrient intake of the elderly. Whenever you are considering placing your elder one in a nursing home, you should talk to the staff about their nutritional program. Also, you should arrange for visiting on a meal time so that you can try the meal yourself as well. Then you can also review the facility’s procedure and policy manual which should exclusively explain the nutritional protocol and plan of the senior citizens home. Now if you have any concerns, you can arrange for a meeting with the nutrition program director to discuss as well as solve any concerns you have regarding what your loved one is eating (World Health Organization, 2012). c.) Impact of Public Policy/Health care Delivery Nursing homes need to cater a wide range of healthy snacks and meals to their residents as well as sticking to the restrictions placed on the residents related to their diets. Those people who are not able to feed their own self need to be assisted by the staff. Weight loss and dehydration due to under nutrition or malnutrition are common impediments that create negative health issues for the residents of nursing homes. To aid prevent such kind of problems, the staff is subjected to report to the administration when people eat seventy five percent or lesser of their meals. But sometimes, the staff is unable to rightly judge the amount of food eaten by the people. Certain guidelines can assist the staff realize the residents who are at a jeopardy of dehydration and malnutrition to minimize the risk potential by taking appropriate measures. Some measures needed could be enhancing the nutrient content of meals, fixing depression and dentures that doesn’t fit too good; and also giving residents more options to attract them to eat more food than they are eating. By taking pictures of plates before and after the residents eat their meal, estimates for the amount of food which is eaten can be calculated (Hennessy, 2011). d.) Resources The people who reside in the nursing home rely on meals the nursing home gives to meet their nutritional needs, and also it gives them an opportunity to socialize with other members of the nursing home. But, sometimes the nursing homes are unable to cater the nutritional needs of all the people residing in their home (World Health Organization, 2012). Most of the elderly people, due to medical conditions and prescriptions, have special dietary requirements. These medical conditions sometimes torment them as they are not able to eat anything. It might be difficult for them to chew or swallow, and they can also have side effects from the medications. Sometimes, they might not feel like eating anything as they might be having problems taking the food down. Older people might have problem absorbing minerals and vitamins and mostly have less kidney function which pertain them to drink more amount of water (Hennessy, 2011). 2. Solution Approximately eighty five percent of all nursing home residents are malnourished to certain extent. According to an article “Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly” in 2006, nursing homes need to focus on residents to recognize the problems and hurdles that are driving them away from eating properly and to propose good solutions. But, this consideration is quite difficult to implement considering the huge number of people who reside in these homes. Being under nutrition is a common practice among the elderly people. The process of ageing is not a reason for malnutrition. Over about two thirds of severe Geriatric Medical admissions to hospitals and over about fifty percent of hostel, housebound and nursing home dwellers have some or the other form of major under nutrition. At least thirty percent of autonomous communities living older people are also under nourished. About eighty percent of this problem of under nutrition goes unnoticed (Hennessy, 2011). The intake of sodium chloride (table salt) should be reduced in all the elderly people as everyone just need a certain percentage of sodium chloride in their diet and it mostly occurs naturally in foods such as egg, vegetables, milk and meat, and there is no particular need to add more of it in the food presented to elderly people (Hennessy, 2011). a.) Proposed Solutions The major causes of under nutrition consists of many factors occurring together which includes social isolation, stroke, dementia, housebound, depression, swallowing disorders, chronic pain, recent hospitalization, fractured hip, Parkinson’s disease, negative drug reactions, and balance and gait disorders. People who are suffering with Alzheimer’s disease have a lessened sense of taste or smell and this might reduce their desire to eat properly. Many elderly people prefer eating food low in nutrients. The complications caused by under nutrition includes a thirty percent increase in mortality within a period of one year, falls, adverse drug reactions, early hospitalization and entry into nursing home, dehydration, pressure sores, complicated and prolonged hospital stay, recurring infections, and pressure sores. Most of the elder people lose weight while in hospital (World Health Organization, 2012). b.) Proposals to handle the situation Nutrition is considered a non important aspect by many doctors and most of the doctors don’t pay any heed to it. It should be implemented in the training of a medical student. Screening of high risk groups of elder people should take into account screening tools such as Mini-Nutritional Assessment such as a diagnosis as well as treatment of fundamental problems, such as managing depression and chronic pain, an overall basic medical test, appropriate time factor to take meals, using safe swallowing methods, drug holidays, reviews on medication, weight bearing exercises, and early mobilization with rehabilitation where necessary as excessive physical exercise requires more nutrition (The University of Sydney, 2006). 3. Implementations of Solution i.) Public policy changes/additions/deletions The supplements of nutrition includes taking at least three meals per day, using fruit drinks and fortified milk, eschewing restrictive diets, taking appropriate fluid intake, and enhancing social contact. Improved nutritional care has lucidly shown to enhance the quality of life for many households as well as increase health outcomes, help hospitalized and institutionalized elderly people and have reduced costs of health care. For each dollar that is spent on better nutrition care of an elderly person, five dollars of health care is saved. ii.) Resources to effect change Elderly people should be encouraged to eat more. This can be done by offering them a vast variety of tasty, attractive, and good smelling snacks and meals. One should use garnishes to make the meal even more attractive and colorful with sauces. The meals should be of right consistency so that they can be chewed easily. Furthermore, they should be appropriate as of the culture and show cultural values. iii.) Effect on health Small meals between meals or snacks between meals help in better overall intake of food by the elderly people. They should also be given a choice of more than one food item and help them decide on their own then as to what they wish to eat. This will strengthen their desire for eating. iv.) Effect on health care delivery Elderly people should be given a relaxed atmosphere to eat without the noise of Television. Plain table clothes and plates are essential for confused people. This way the health care is delivered to the elderly in a proficient and reliable manner. Also, the concern for hygiene is maintained and people are catered likewise. As mentioned above the plain table clothes are kept for confused people so that they can distinguish between the food items easily. All kind of facilities for health care consumers will be enhanced by focusing on the nutrition practices in elderly (The University of Sydney, 2006). v.) Effect on nursing practice The diets of elderly people should not be restrictive and should be made up of extra energy by adding margarine, powdered milk, butter, cheese, oil, peanut butter or avocado. The nursing practice becomes more emphasized and focused. They have a direction as what to do and how to do it. The nursing practice will have a clear cut vision as when they know precisely what kind of food they have to give to which elder person. vi.) Effect on healthcare consumer Food should be made up of a balanced diet to enhance the full enrichment of energy into the elderly people (The University of Sydney, 2006). These steps are essential to overcome the issue of malnutrition which is largely prevalent in this group of the population. Malnutrition and under nutrition will be overcome by such practices. Also, the rate of elderly people getting sick or having dietary problems will be reduced if a proper balanced diet format is followed. Balanced diet not only enriches a person with all of the components for a healthy diet such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins, and minerals but also increases the stamina of a person. vii.) Effects on other healthcare providers The health care providers will have a chance to interact better, get better response from customers and be happy by helping others. As the health schedule and meal times will be decided, health care providers will have a better idea as what to do and how to handle the elderly. Care for elderly is the most important aspect of a senior citizens home and health care providers should know precisely what to do to care in an enhanced manner. References BBC Health. (2012). Healthy eating in older adults in the UK. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/nutrition/life_olderadults.shtml Hennessy, R. (2011, August 11). Nutrition in nursing homes. LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/393201-nutrition-in-nursing-homes/ The University of Sydney. (2006, May). Nutritional care of the housebound elderly. Conference at the University of Sydney. Retrieved from http://sydney.edu.au/science/molecular_bioscience/nrf/documents/ConferenceNotes_NutritionalCareHouseboundElderlysmall.pdf World Health Organization. (2012). Nutrition for older persons. WHO. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ageing/en/index2.html Read More