SELINA CHAN

Providing Basic Nutrition Education for the Older

Adult

Clinical Placement &Mentoring Experience

Laboure Center South Boston, MA Funded by Catholic Charities Clinical Experience

Provided home care through visiting nursing services Worked alongside school nurse in local elementary school

Priscilla Greene, R.N., MSN Director of Clinical Programs at Laboure Center in South

Boston, Visiting Nursing Services and Adult Day Health

Older Adult Population in South Boston, MA

Patient population seen during home care visits: Homebound and/or

requiring some sort of aid for mobility

Common diagnoses: Diabetes, Hypertension,

Congestive Heart Failure and Other Cardiac Conditions, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia

Poor disease management and lack of education

Nutrition and the Process of Aging

Decreased bone mass, lean body mass and water content

Decreased metabolic rateIncreased total body fat and

intra-abdominal fat stores Change in senses (loss of

vision, smell, and taste) Decreased thirst perception

ReferenceWiggins, S., Swagerty, D.L., & McDonald, M. (2007). Malnutrition in Older Adults. Retrieved from http://www2.kumc.edu/coa/Education/AMED900/Nutrition.htm.

Barriers to Healthy Eating

Disease Processes Financial Constraints Lack of TransportationDecreased Mobility Social

Isolation/Depression Medication Side Effects Lack of Knowledge

Nutrition Teaching Tool

Basic Nutrition Information Changes with the Process of Aging General Information

Reading Labels Portion Control Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats

Focus on Special Diet Considerations Diabetes Hypertension Congestive Heart Failure