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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