This document discusses digestion and nutrition for older adults. Key points include:
- Taste and smell decline with age which can impact food enjoyment and intake. Oral health also declines which influences eating.
- About 30% of older adults experience dry mouth due to medications which impacts eating. Swallowing difficulties also increase with age.
- Nutritional assessments for older adults should evaluate usual intake, oral health, eating patterns, risks impacting food, and measures of nutritional status.
- Dietary recommendations focus on adequate fluid, vitamin D, fiber and protein intake to support digestion and nutrition in older adults.
5. • Taste cells can regenerate , the sense of taste
probably declines with age .
• Older adults who smoke , are malnourished , wear
denture , take medications , or have medical
conditions are likely to experience significant
difficulty in detecting flavors .
6. ORAL CAVITY
• Age-related changes in the teeth and support
structures influence digestive processes and food
enjoyment . With increased age , the tooth enamel
becomes harder and more brittle , the dentin becomes
more fibrous , and the nerve chambers become
shorter and narrower .
• app. 30% of people 65 years and older experience
xerostomia ( dry mouth) because of medications and
disease .
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10. DYSPHAGIA NURSING
ASSESSMENT AND
INTERVENTIONS
• 1- examine the level of consciousnes , posture , voluntary
coughh , voice quality , and saliva control .
• 2- have the patient drink 1 teaspoon of water
• 3- if the teaspoon of water clears safely , have the patient drink
a small glass of water .
• Rest for 30 min before eating , sit upright , avoid rushing or
forced feeding , alternate small amounts of solid and liquid
foods , minimize disractions .
• Good oral care
• Heimlich maneuver
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12. NURSING ASSESSMENT
• Usual nutrient intake
• Oral health
• Usual eating patterns
• Risks that affect food preparation , intake , and
enjoyment
• Measures of nutritional status
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14. HOW MUCH FIBER DO YOU
NEED ?•
Age 50 or
younger
Age 51 or older
men 38 30
woman 25 21
15. FLUID INTAKE
Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) (51+ years)
• Females: 2.7 L/day total water (2.2 L = 9
cups total beverages)
• Males: 3.7 L/day total water (3.0 L = 13
cups total beverages)
16. VITAMINS AND MINERALS
• Vitamin D
• Current DRI’s are:
• Males and Females 51-70
years: 10 ug (400 IU)
• Males and Females 70
+years: 15 ug (600 IU)
• Canada’s Food Guide
recommends an additional
daily vitamin D supplement of
10 ug (400 IU) for everyone
over the age of 50
• New research is
demonstrating a need for
increasing vitamin D
requirements for older adults
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21. AGE – RELATED CHANGES
• Less efficient chewing – ‘ how many times you
chew your food ? ’
• Low senses of smell and taste
• Low saliva secretion
• Slower motility : lazy bowel syndrome
• Degenerative changes affecting digestion
• Daily intake : need fewer but higher quality calories
25. RISK FACTORS
• Conditions that affect ability to obtain , prepare ,
consume, or enjoy food
• Poor oral care
• Effects of medications
• Cultural and socioeconomic factors
• Environmental factors
26. NURSING INTERVENTIONS
• Teaching about nutrition and digestion
• Preventing / addressing constipation
• Promoting oral and dental care
• Reffering for home- delivered meals and group
meal programs
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28. WELLNESS OUTCOMES
• Improved nutritional status
• Improved oral hygiene
• Elimination of risk factors
• High sense of well - being
