Topics on Health matters
Trainer’s tip: Observe residents for signs that may lead to malnutrition
Posted by: | Date- Doesn’t eat from the major food groups most of the time
- Eats less than half of two or more meals a day
- Eats less than one hot meal a day
- Changes from solid foods to pureed foods, or makes other dietary changes
- Is socially isolated or depressed and subsequently does not eat
- Uses laxatives excessively, which hinders the digestion of nutrients by causing food to pass through the intestines too quickly
Recognizing body changes that influence proper nutrition
Posted by: | Date- Lean tissue and muscle mass decrease. There is also less bone mass. Body fat increases.
- Stomach acid may decrease and the stomach might not empty as fast. The intestine may absorb less nutrition from food.
- Tooth and gum problems increase, sometimes making it difficult to chew.
- Some people have trouble swallowing, especially those who have suffered from a stroke.
- There is a loss of taste and smell, which often causes people to be less interested in food.
- Sometimes people are too weak or tired to eat an entire meal.
- Appetite and thirst decrease. Many elderly or ill people eat and drink less than they should. This leads to fatigue, sadness, infections, skin breakdowns, and lack of energy. Medications can also affect appetite or thirst.
- Many diseases also affect the way the body uses food or water. Someone with an illness usually needs more food and water because the body needs energy to heal. People with some conditions, however, must carefully control the amount and type of calories they take in (e.g., diabetes).
This is an excerpt from the HCPro book, The CNA Training Solution, Second Edition.
Free Guide to how healthcare reform affects seniors
Posted by: | DateFree Guide to how healthcare reform affects seniors.
How to Tell If Your Parents Need Help
Posted by: | DateHow to Tell If Your Parents Need Help by Carol Bradley Bursack
Visits with your parents provide an opportunity not only to spend quality time together, but to check their health to determine if they need extra help. Observe how they behave over the course of your visit and watch for the following warning signs that they may need additional assistance.
1. Are they experiencing balance problems?
Balance problems could be an early sign of dementia, bad joints or an inner ear infection. A fall could break their hip, and complications from a broken hip can be fatal. Watch their alcohol drinking habits, and find out if any of their medications could cause dizziness. If a parent or elderly loved one is walking unsteadily, insist they see a doctor.
2. Have they lost a lot of weight?
Look in their pantry and refrigerator to make sure they have nutritious food on hand. You can also suggest Meals-on-Wheels, a community program that brings a nutritious dinner to elders for a very reasonable price. If eating isn’t the issue, suggest they get a complete physical to see what’s going on.
3. Do they seem depressed?
If your parents are sleeping too much, have no interest in former hobbies they once loved, no appetite or no interest in anything at all, they may be suffering from depression. Ask a friend or neighbor about your parents’ moods when you aren’t there. Someone who sees them frequently may have a better sense of things.
Talk to them about their options
Often, elders won’t disclose they are having trouble because they fear they’ll have to move into a nursing home. So let them know there are other assistance options, such as in-home care agencies or personal medical alarms.
When you visit, don’t try to change everything right away. Just get a feel for what is going on and note what needs to be done to keep your parents or elders safe. Let them know you love them and want to help them stay in their home, and they’ll be more likely to cooperate.