Nutritional assessment in the Elderly

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This is my first post, I am looking for a very discriptive way to write a nutritional assessment on my 94 yo patient. He was admitted for only 6 weeks to a rehabilitational facility secondary to complications from pneumonia. He eats all of his breakfast and lunch, but not dinner. No changes in appetite and has continued to gain weight since admission. Before going to the hospital, he did lose approx. 10 lb. What else do I need to add? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

I would look in your med/surg book for a nutritional assessment form or a series of guidelines. It will have many questions and suggestions for you. Also, google is your friend. "Nutritional Assessment for the Elderly" I found this one really quickly. http://www.mna-elderly.com/forms/mna_guide_english.pdf

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
This is my first post, I am looking for a very descriptive way to write a nutritional assessment on my 94 yo patient. He was admitted for only 6 weeks to a rehabilitation facility secondary to complications from pneumonia. He eats all of his breakfast and lunch, but not dinner. No changes in appetite and has continued to gain weight since admission. Before going to the hospital, he did lose approx. 10 lb. What else do I need to add? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Welcome to AN!

I would focus on why your 94 year old patient lost 10 pounds prior to hospitalization and gained weight during the hospital stay. For me, this is a HUGE red flag that this patient is having difficulty caring for himself at home and making meals. It could have bee because he was ill, but it sounds to me he may need some meals on wheels or some other assistance. he gained the weight in the hospital because he was hungry and couldn't get/make his meals at home.

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Thanks so much for your reply!!! He did lose weight before being admitted, he had fallen which slowed him down quite a bit, and then suffered a bout of pneumonia. Happily to say though, we was released from the rehabilitation center last week and last I had heard was doing fabulous!!! Thanks again!! :kiss

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also consider his caloric needs-- is he sedentary, working hard on his pt/ot, generating fevers, working hard at breathing, or what?

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