Elissa Gray

NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE OLDER ADULT

BREAKFAST: WHEAT TOAST WITH JELLY, COFFEE

LUNCH: TUNA SALAD SANDWICH ON WHEAT BREAD, COTTAGE CHEESE, CHIPS, DIET COKE.

DINNER: POT ROAST, MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS, DINNER ROLL, MILK

DESSERT: ICE CREAM SANDWHICH

She also drank 4 glasses of water throughout the day

GRANDMA PAM’S 24 HOUR DIET INTAKE

The pyramid for older adults includes adequate consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein, while limiting fats and oils.

Older adults may need to take in extra protein to reduce the likelihood of frailty. Also, older adults need to endure adequate intake of fiber.

A flag depicting vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium is atop the modified pyramid for older adults, reminding them that they may need extra

intake of these vitamins.

The bottom of the pyramid shows eight glasses of water, reminding older adults of the importance of hydration

(Touhy and Jett, 2012, pp. 241-42, figure 14-1).

DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR

OLDER ADULTS

Whole grain breads

Tuna and pot roast for protein

Milk, ice cream, and cottage cheese for dairy

Carrots and mashed potatoes for vegetables

4 glasses of water

She needs additional fruits and vegetables

She only drank half the recommended glasses of

water

She is not taking any supplementation for calcium

or vitamins

Empty calories with the chips

Grandma Pam’s strengths

Grandma Pam’s weaknesses

COMPARISON

Weight: 146 lbs

Height: 62 inches

BMI: 26.7

Below 18.5: Underweight

18.5-24.9: Healthy

25.0-29.9: Overweight

30.0-39.9: Obese

Over 40: Extreme or high risk

Elderly: Greater than 65, recommended BMI is 25-27

(Medline Plus, 2012)

Grandma Pam’s BMI General BMI

BMI

Although my grandma Pam doesn’t have the worst diet in the world, she definitely has room for improvement. She is

an older women and is therefore at high risk for osteoporosis, and really needs to increase her calcium and

vitamin D intake. And although her whole wheat bread provides some fiber, she needs to increase her fruits and vegetables to ensure she gets all the fiber and vitamins needed. Lastly, she needs to double her water intake to

ensure proper hydration; “Fluid intake is more important to emphasize in older than in younger adults, because

compromised homeostatic mechanisms such as loss of thirst sensation can result in dehydration” (Lichtenstein, et al, 2007, p. 8). The food pyramid made for older adults is a

great tool to educate about the importance of dietary intake: “The Modified MyPyramid provides food and

nutrition professionals with an excellent visual aid that they can use when educating older adults” (Peregrin, 2008, p.

938).

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Readiness for enhanced self health management

Risk for deficient fluid volume

Readiness for enhanced nutrition

NURSING DIAGNOSIS

My dietary intake changes from week to week; on good

weeks I would describe my intake as fair, and on bad weeks

I would describe my intake as poor. I am basing these

ratings on the foods that I enjoy eating and the foods that I

do eat. At times the foods I eat are the foods recommended

by the food pyramid, but at other times my intake is junk

food.

MY DIETARY INTAKE

Weight: 171 lbs

Height: 67 inches

BMI: 26.6

Below 18.5: Underweight

18.5-24.9: Healthy

25.0-29.9: Overweight

30.0-39.9: Obese

Over 40: Extreme or high risk

Elderly: Greater than 65, recommended BMI is 25-27

(Medline Plus, 2012)

My BMI General BMI

BMI

I eat whole grain breads, pastas, and rice

I drink 3-4 glasses of water while at work and at home

I drink skim milk

I eat lean meats for protein

I take a multivitamin everyday

I do not eat enough servings of fruits and

vegetables

I need to increase my water intake

I regularly consume empty calories, such as pop or junk

food

I consume fast food at least twice a week

Strengths Weaknesses

MY DIET

I spoke with my grandma Pam about ways that she can alter her nutritional intake to live a healthier lifestyle, but I too

need to make dietary changes.

I have decided to completely eliminate pop and fast food, and will instead drink low-calorie Gatorade and eat healthy option frozen meals when I am pressed for time. I plan on using the app My Fitness Pal to calculate my caloric intake while maintaining a maximum daily intake of 1500 calories. In addition, I will exercise for at least 30 minutes for three of my four days off of work. Talking with my grandma about her nutritional needs opened up my eyes to my own dietary

shortcomings, and it is incredibly hard to teach someone about a healthy lifestyle when I am not living a healthy

lifestyle myself. My short-term goal is to lose 15 pounds by the end of the year.

MY PLAN

Lichtenstein, A., Rasmussen, H., Yu, W., Epstein, S., and Russell, R. (2007) Modified MyPyramid for older adults. The Journal of Nutrition. Retrieved from http://jn. nutrition.org/ content /138/1/5.full

Medline Plus (2012) Body mass index. National Institute of Health. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article /007196.htm

Peregrin, T. (2008, June). Getting to know the modified mypyramid for older adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, vol 108, (6). doi 10.1016/j.jada.2008.04.006

Touhy, T. and Jett, K. PhD (2012) Ebersole & Hess’ toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (8th ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby

REFERENCES