Health Concerns On Elderly And Causes And Consequences Of Malnutrition : What Is Specific For Elderly?

1.3 Outline how other health and emotional conditions may affect the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia

Due to the loss of muscle mass, protein adequacy is also a problem in older adults because it is not advised to increase protein intake. Limited protein intake may result in vitamin A, C, D, calcium, iron, zinc, and other deficiencies (Grodner, 2012). Overall, Theresa’s small nutrient intake can result in many nutrient deficiencies.

The most common health problems within older people and causes of health problem are respiratory and heart disease, stroke, cancer, fractures and diabetes. If we can improve services, we can minimise risks of getting these diseases leading to less health problems and less hospital admissions. Problems like malnutrition are also more common in older people as the prevalence has been estimated to be between 11%-44% in the general hospital population but 29%-61% in older

There are individual symptoms when lacking each of these nutrients for example, zinc can cause anemia. But overall there are symptoms of malnutrition as a whole including; poor weight gain, behavioral changes; anxiety, irritability and decreased response. There are also physical factors like skin, nail, hair and oral changes. Malnutrition can be diagnosed in various ways; Complete blood count, sedimentation rate, serum electrolytes, urinalysis and a culture. Women and children are most at risk for malnutrition.

Increased mortality rate (incidence of mortality of malnourished patients at 1 year being nearly 30% in 1 Australian study8)

In recent years, there has been research involving the causes and consequences of poor nutrition among the elderly. Researchers continually work to distinguish risk factors of inadequate nutrition; the factors of most concern are “poor appetite, functional limitations, limited income, and social isolation” (Lirette, Podovennikoff, Wismer, Tondu, Klatt, 2007). Individuals at highest risk are those who live at home with a lack of family support (Krondl, Coleman, Lau, 2008). The diets of many elderly people are often low in calories and lacking important nutrients. All of these factors can affect the health and quality of life in the older adult. Nutrition plays a significant role in the health of

What is dementia? Dementia a neurologic condition characterized by the following cognitive defects; impaired memory, disturbed intellectual function, and inability to solve a problem (deWit O’Neill 2014). Dementia occurs in different stages in this paper we are going to be discussing late stage dementia, and the end stage. The effect that dementia has on a person’s nutritional status. Why is the dementia patient more at risk for malnutrition? Things we as health care providers can do to improve the person with dementias intake, and preventing malnutrition, and finally how nutrition effects the dementia patient during the final and end stages.

national institutes for health, if you are seventy or older you may have nutritional needs for either high or low calories depending on gender or state of

As we get older, cell turnover decreases and leads to the decrease of the normal functioning of the organs. A prevalent condition in otherwise healthy old adults is sarcopenia results from the natural decrease in skeletal muscle mass, which directly affects the independence of old adult to conduct daily activities such as walking, cooking and exercising. Therefore, Sarcopenia is one of the reasons for malnutrition in the elderly since it interferes with their ability to obtain and prepare their meal. Sarcopenia should receive attention and thus more research on its treatment should be conducted because, without it, otherwise healthy old adult adults could enjoy their daily activities away from costly nursing homes and hospitals. This literature review shows that

Many times, seniors fail to eat properly because they have difficulty grocery shopping or preparing meals. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, seniors need proper nutrition and a balanced diet to avoid many health complications such as a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis

Dementia is a progressive loss of brain function affecting memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior. When older adults cognitive function declines, many changes impact the way they eat. As they age, cognitive impairment affects older adults physical ability to eat independently and their ability to enjoy food or their ability to eat may be affected by food choices because they become overwhelmed by too many food choices. Dr. Heidi K. White presentation on Nutrition and Dementia, described how Alzheimer’s disease affects malnutrition, ways to improve nutrition for patient with dementia, and nutritional needs for end of life care and the role for tube feeding.

Nurses should assess psycho-social factors, which could lead to nutritional alterations. Factors such as loss of caregiver support, social isolation, limited access to food, an inability to cook and prepare food because of cognitive problems, or inability to recognize hunger may contribute to patient’s malnutrition. Collateral history from a caregiver and a home visit can provide invaluable insight into these issues (Wells & Dumbrell, 2006). Knowledge of the normal and pathological changes in cognition that occur in aging is an essential background to understanding interventions to optimize cognition in older adults. (Williams & Kemper, 2010). Nutrition has been identified as a critical factor in successful cognitive aging as well as in abnormal cognitive decline, including dementia. Thus, nurses need to assess cognitive aging as a basis for educating clients about their nutritional needs and for developing interventions to promote cognitive and physiological wellbeing. There is strong evidence that a balanced nutrition can improve cognitive performance in older adults (Scott at al., 2006).

As a person ages their nutritional needs change. For the most part all the requirements are the same just less of them. Because they have slower metabolism and do not do as much the need for larger amounts of calories is no longer there. Most elderly people do not dink enough fluids, part of this is do the as they age they become less aware that they are thirsty. This has to do with their kidneys and bladder not working as well. By not drinking enough fluids they become a higher risk for dehydration. Also by not drinking enough the age faster and their skin shows more sings of aging. Exercise is important but older people do not exercise enough or at all. This party because they as they age they lose range of movement. Most exercise class and sports activities do not offer classes or are not set up for the older people in the community. Weight training is good for the elderly it helps to keep their strength up. The simplest everyday things can count as exercise and help keep them

Having explored Dutton’s theory through the lens of primitive art, I now extrapolate his philosophical viewpoint to modern advertising (a somewhat risky exercise, albeit one with many benefits). With this extrapolation, I can hypothesize that society treats advertisements that “further” the field much more reverently than they do advertisements that simply utilize old ideals. Simple observation reveals that this hypothesis may not be far off the mark. Creative Super Bowl ads, for instance, often garner much attention, with particularly innovative ads having the potential to redefine a company’s image. (While not a static magazine ad or billboard image, Apple’s famed 1984 “Big Brother” ad provides an example of such a commercial.) Yet even though

      Although calorie needs decrease, the elderly have an increased need for certain vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is especially important for the elderly to eat foods that are nutrient dense (6). They should eat an array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish, poultry, low-fat milk, and dairy products while reducing intake of sweets.