Case study #3 Older Adults
AM is a 78-year-old female with diagnoses of hypertension, glaucoma, osteoporosis, dementia, and history of surgery for hip fractures after a recent fall. She was transferred to a nursing home for rehabilitation after hospitalization for the hip surgery. She is taking multiple prescription medications for her health conditions. The physician ordered labs recently and just added a new prescription for vitamin B12 due to vitamin B12 deficiency. As the nurse in charge of AMs care, you called AMs daughter to report a significant weight loss of 8 lbs. since her admission a month ago as well as the new supplement order for vitamin B12. AMs medical record showed she has poor dentition and average food intake of 50% of her food. AMs daughter stated AM used to eat everything and was never picky when younger. She also said she plans to bring some supplements that were said to boost energy when she visits next week.
Q1. Please describe to AMs daughter some of the physiological changes of normal aging and how they relate to nutrition
Q2. Please describe to AMs daughter at least 4 factors that may contributed to AMs reduced food intake and weight loss.
Q3. Please explain to AMs daughter why low vitamin B12 status can be common among older adults even when they consume more than the DRI.
Q4. Please explain to AMs daughter why AMs physician should be notified before AM takes any additional supplements.
