Transcript Proper Nutrition Is Important to the Health and Well Being

Proper Nutrition Is Important to
the Health and Well Being of
Nursing Home Residents
• Enough intake of essential
nutrients to maintain good
health
Nutrition Care Alerts
Program
!
Improving the Nutritional
Health of Your Residents
!
• Designed to help
maintain nutritional
health of residents
• Designed to help
facilities address four
areas of resident care
Four Common Nutrition
Related Conditions
• Unintended
weight loss
• Dehydration
• Pressure ulcers
• Complications
of tube feeding
Physician
Dietitian
and
Pharmacist
Diet
Nurse
Nursing Assistant
Technician
!
Unintended Weight Loss
• Needs help to eat or
drink
• Eats less than half of
meals/snacks
• Complains of mouth
pain
• Has dentures that don’t
fit
• Has a hard time
chewing or swallowing
!
Unintended Weight Loss
• Has trouble using
utensils
• Is sad, has crying spells,
or withdraws from
others
• Is confused, wanders,
or paces
• Has diabetes, COPD,
cancer, HIV, or other
chronic disease
Unintended Weight Loss
• Report observations and
warning signs to nurse
• Encourage resident to
eat
• Honor resident’s food
preferences
• Offer alternative foods,
drinks
• Help resident who has
trouble feeding
him/herself
Unintended Weight Loss
• Don’t rush resident
while he/she is eating
• Record meal/snack
intake
• Provide oral care before
meals
• Position resident for
feeding as directed by
nurse
!
Dehydration
• Drinks less than 6 cups
of liquid daily
• Has dry mouth, cracked
lips, sunken eyes, or
urine is dark in color or
has strong odor
• Needs help to drink
• Has trouble swallowing
liquids
• Has vomiting, diarrhea
or fever
• Is dizzy, easily confused,
or tired
Dehydration
• Report observations and
warning signs to nurse
• Encourage intake of 2-4
ounces of water every
time you see resident,
unless directed otherwise
• Record fluid intake
• Offer ice chips
frequently, if permissible
Dehydration
• Offer sips of liquid
between bites of food
at meals and snacks
• Make sure resident
can lift pitcher and
cup
• If resident cannot
drink without help,
offer appropriate
assistance
!
•
•
-
Pressure Ulcers
Is subject to
incontinence
heavy perspiration
Needs help
moving arms,legs,or
body
- turning in bed
- changing position
when sitting
!
Pressure Ulcers
• Has lost weight
• Eats less than half of
meals and snacks
served
• Is dehydrated
• Has discolored, torn,
or swollen skin over
bony areas
Pressure Ulcers
• Report observations and
warning signs to nurse
• Check and change linens
as appropriate to keep
resident dry
• Handle/move resident
with care to avoid skin
tears and scrapes
• Reposition resident
frequently and properly
Pressure Ulcers
• Use “Unintended
Weight Loss Action
Steps” to improve
calorie/protein intake
• Record meal/snack
intake
• Use “Dehydration
Action Steps” to
improve fluid intake
if resident is orally
fed
!
Residents Who Are Tube Fed
• Has nausea, vomiting
or diarrhea
• Has swollen stomach
or stomach ache
• Has constipation or
cramping
!
Residents Who Are Tube Fed
• Has coughing,
wheezing, wet
breathing, or a
feeling of something
caught in the throat
• At the site where the
feeding tube enters
the body there is
- pain, redness, heat or
swelling
- crusty or oozing fluid
Residents Who Are Tube Fed
• Report observations
and warning signs to
nurse
• Maintain position of
resident with head
elevated 30 degrees or
more, as tolerated,
during feedings and
for at least 30 minutes
after feedings
Based on the Nutrition Care Alerts
Adapted with permission by the Nutrition Screening Initiative, a project of the American Academy of Family
Physicians, American Dietetic Association, and National Council on the Aging, Inc., and funded in part by a grant
from Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Inc. These materials were developed by the National Policy and
Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging at Florida International University through grants from the US
Administration on Aging and US Health Care Financing Administration.