Question

1. Discuss a minimum of 6 nursing measures to promote nutrition in the elderly.

Answer 1

Nurses have the responsibility to ensure that elderly patients nutritional needs are met. For this they need to plan the measures and work accordingly.

1) Nutritional screening : it is important to screen the nutritional status of the patient to treat certain nutritional deficiencies such as pellagra, scurvy,iron deficiency anemia etc.

2) Assessment of nutritional patterns: It helps to assess the nutritional status of patient and identify where they need more nursing care and attention.

3) Meal time management: it is necessary to fix appropriate time for meals. Small and frequent feed should be initiated.

4) Eating assistance and feeding skills : Sometimes people cannot meet their nutritional requirements as they cannot feed themselves. In this case nurse should assist them in feeding and train family members about feeding skills.

5) Nutritional education for patient and family members :It is the responsibility of the nurse to encourage healthy food habits at regular intervals instead of consuming junk food which cannot meet their nutritional requirements.

6) oral hygiene: It is very important for people to stay healthy. Hence it is advisable to initiate oral hygiene before and after having meals.