SELINA CHAN Providing Basic Nutrition Education for the Older Adult

Clinical Placement &Mentoring Experience Laboure Center  South Boston, MA  Funded by Catholic Charities  Clinical Experience  Provided home care through visiting nursing services  Worked alongside school nurse in local elementary school Priscilla Greene, R.N., MSN  Director of Clinical Programs at Laboure Center in South Boston, Visiting Nursing Services and Adult Day Health

Older Adult Population in South Boston, MA Patient population seen during home care visits:  Homebound and/or requiring some sort of aid for mobility  Common diagnoses:  Diabetes, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure and Other Cardiac Conditions, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia  Poor disease management and lack of education

Nutrition and the Process of Aging Decreased bone mass, lean body mass and water content Decreased metabolic rate Increased total body fat and intra-abdominal fat stores Change in senses (loss of vision, smell, and taste) Decreased thirst perception Reference Wiggins, S., Swagerty, D.L., & McDonald, M. (2007). Malnutrition in Older Adults. Retrieved from AMED900/Nutrition.htm.

Barriers to Healthy Eating Disease Processes Financial Constraints Lack of Transportation Decreased Mobility Social Isolation/Depression Medication Side Effects Lack of Knowledge

Nutrition Teaching Tool Basic Nutrition Information  Changes with the Process of Aging  General Information  Reading Labels  Portion Control  Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats  Focus on Special Diet Considerations  Diabetes  Hypertension  Congestive Heart Failure