Nutritional Assessment

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Nutritional assessment
Nutrition is a very central health aspect of the elderly populace as it affects the aging process. Recent years have recorded an increase of prevalence of malnutrition in these populations. The process is associated with a decline in major body functions such as impaired muscle functions, immune dysfunctions, decrease in body and bone mass, anemia, poor wound healing, reduced cognitive functions, delayed recovery from surgery, high hospital readmission among many others. Reduced appetite accompanied with falling biological and psychological functions are evident (Dent et al, 2014).
MM case is not different; he is a senior citizen aged 74 with a complicated health history, which necessitates a nutritional assessment. The evaluation is important to both the patient and the nurse. To the patient, a dietary assessment that requires the patient to give an account of his/her intake in the last 24 hours or maybe the last one week would explain the unintentional weight loss. Another important evaluation is the clinical assessment, which indicates nutritional deficiencies. Here, the medical history of the patient is examined to establish the right diagnosis for the patient and to ensure that previous ailment medications are factored into the equation so as avoid adverse responses.
Before carrying out a thorough nursing assessment some vital information must be availed to the nurse. Besides the traditional patient history and general appearance information, addition measurements and vital signs must be recorded i...