Nutrition assessment is the in depth evaluation of subjective and objective data related to an individual nutrient and food intake, medical history and lifestyle. Nutrition among the children and the elderly patients is an important health determinant. Over the past couple of years, getting information on the nutrition status of the patients in these age groups has become an important aspect. Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical and dietary data is used in nutritional assessment.
Child
The BMI of the child is taken as a way of identifying the growth abnormalities in the child. Use of 24 hour recall and food frequency table is also used in getting the dietary intake of the child. Analysis of the biochemical data is used to obtain …show more content…
First I conduct an assessment on the child. In doing so, I will examine the objective nutritional parameters including height, body weight, MAC, triceps skinfold thickness(TSF),arm muscle circumference(AMC),albumin and many other more. In managing the case the guardian was advised to feed the child with vitamin D rich foods, calcium and phosphorus foods. To obtain vitamin D, I will instruct the guardian should expose the child to sunlight, a natural source of vitamin D and consume milk and dairy products. In this case, malnutrition is the priority case. I will also refer the child to a dietician for further assessment and teaching of the guardian ways to keep the Child nourished with appropriate nutrients taking into consideration her cultural …show more content…
I firstly performed an assessment on her by checking her medical records, gathering dietary flow sheets and her assessment notes. I also asked few questions about the patient concerning her decreased intake and also conferred with dietician on possible health problems. I advised her to consume iron rich foods and high caloric foods. Anemia was the priority in this case and she was to be taking green vegetables (indigenous) like kales, spinach lettuce, liver and organ meat. High caloric foods to be taken had to be balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. Milk, organ meat and starchy foods. Older people usually have reduced oral intake. Again my priority is to help improve oral food intake. I recommended the provision and use of oral supplements. Provide instructions on how to increase calories and protein intake. I strongly believe that high-calorie and nutrient rich supplements are very essential for people who are malnourished and are unable to eat. The NSI explains that improvements in body weight and survival have been shown in patients receiving oral supplements (Nutrition Screening Initiative, Nutrition statement of principle, 2002).For example on study of illness related to malnutrition older adults concluded that oral nutrition supplements have a greater role than dietary advice when it comes to improvement in body weight and energy intake (Baldwin C, et al.