Nutrition and Aging Reflection

One key take away is that nutrition has an effect on every aspect of your body. Things such as decubitus ulcers can be due to malnutrition during a hospital stay. This is something I never considered before. Nutrition also has a lot to do with muscle strength and organ function. Protein has such an important role in preventing muscle atrophy in older adults specifically. Another key takeaway is to include the facilities RD in a patient's POC and talk to them about any muscle weakness and signs of potential malnutrition. 

One intervention idea would be to do a group cooking class for older adults. Within this class, we would teach important nutrition concepts and stress the importance of eating a balanced diet throughout the day. This could be done at an independent living facility where they are expected to make 2/3 of their meals per day. 

Another intervention could be working with a client that is transitioning from one environment to a more independent environment. We would discuss the importance of proper nutrition, come up with a weekly meal plan, and make some simple meals in the clinic before their d/c home.