Older Adults

Question 1

When do you become a senior/older adult?

Answer 1

65

with rising life expectancies some argue that 65 can no longer be regard

Question 2

what charts are used to check nutritional status in 60 year olds?

Answer 2

WHO

Question 3

what charts are used to check nutritional status in 65 year olds?

Answer 3

old age security pension

Question 4

what charts are used to check nutritional status in 70 year olds?

Answer 4

DRI category

Question 5

how to determine whether someone is a senior or not?

Answer 5

• chronological age
• biological age
• psychosocial age
• social age

most frequently use chronological

Question 6

what are the 3 groups of changes that occur with advance aging?

Answer 6

1. Cellular homeostatic mechanisms
2. Loss of function/reserve of body systems
3. Decreased lean body mass`

Question 7

explain what happens to cellular homeostatic mechanisms with age

Answer 7

body temperature, blood, and extracellular fluid volumes; also see ↑ DNA damage and ↓DNA repair capacity

Question 8

explain what happens to function/reserve of body systems with age

Answer 8

• See lower mineral,
• muscle, &
• water reserves;
• GI tract: increased transit time,
• decreased blood flow

Question 9

decrease in lean body mass

Answer 9

• LBM decreases 2-3% from age 20 to 70
  ~~~
  Decreased organ, muscular, skeletal mass
  Decreased total body water
  Increased % adipose tissue until 60, then declines
  ~~~
  Lack of estrogen promotes fat accumulation

Question 10

mean body weight gradually increases with againg, peaking between __ & __ years

Answer 10

50 & 59

Question 11

what is lean body mass?

Answer 11

everything that’s not fat
- so this component includes your bones, organs, muscles, ligaments, tendons and fluids

Question 12

what BMI is ok for elderly?

Answer 12

BMI between 20-27

Question 13

sarcopenia

Answer 13

syndrome characterised by progressive and generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life and death

loss of lean body mass associated with aging

Question 14

cachexia

Answer 14

fat and muscle wasting due to disease and inflammation

happens to many cancer patients

Question 15

63% of ____ to ____ year olds have an olfactory impairment

Answer 15

63% of 80 to 90 year olds have an olfactory impairment

Question 16

often what is percieved as a ____ defect is actually a primary defect

Answer 16

often what is percieved as a taste defect is actually a primary olfactory defect

Question 17

____ are more likely to retain olfactory abilities

Answer 17

women

Question 18

____ & ____ affect taste and smell more than aging

Answer 18

Disease & medications

Question 19

Changes in taste cell membranes, localized deficits on the ______

Answer 19

tongue

Question 20

Chewing problems associated with tooth loss/dentures, reduced

Answer 20

saliva production

Question 21

what is the impact on diet from loss of tase?

Answer 21

• appetite suppression
• tend towards wanting higher salt and sugar intake

resulting in weight loss, malnutrition, impaired immunity, and deterioration in medical conditions

The tendency toward higher salt and sugar intake in the elderly diet can aggravate health conditions

Question 22

Flavour enhancers

Answer 22

enhance, or modify the original taste or aroma of a food but do not have a characteristic taste or aroma of their own. MSG, sodium have been used

• found to increase food intake, immune function, grip strength in older adults, feelings of hunger

Question 23

reduced appetite is associated with:

Answer 23

- congestive heart failure
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- diabetes
- malignancies
- GI complaints (e.g. gastric ulcer, bowel obstruction.)

Question 24

how to manage reduced appetite

Answer 24

• Smaller more frequent meals
• Food preferences
• Liquid dietary supplements b/w meals
• Liberalize diet- treats
• Socialization, music

Question 25

changes in fluid homeostasis

Answer 25

Decreased lean body mass, decreased total body water: less reserve
Thirst-regulating mechanisms decrease with age
Typical means of diagnosis of dehydration not always reliable in older adults

Question 26

by age 70, total body water decreases to ____% as compared to 60% in a younger adult

Answer 26

40%

Question 27

signs of dehydration

Answer 27

• fatigued appearance,
• pallor,
• sunken periorbital areas, and
• chapped lips
• dry mucous membranes, although often a sign of dehydration, can be tied to many other conditions or a side effect of medications
• Poor skin turgor is a classic sign of dehydration, although this is an expected finding in older adults.

A plasma urea–creatinine ratio is a great indicator of dehydration in a healthy kidney, but older adults often have a raised ratio related to renal failure, bleeding, heart failure, sarcopenia, glucocorticoids, or high intakes of protein, making it unhelpful in the specific diagnosis of dehydration.

Serum or plasma osmolality is the gold standard to diagnose dehydration. Osmolality change is sensitive enough to show dehydration with only a 1% water loss

Question 28

risk factors for dehydration

Answer 28

• swallowing disorders (caused by stroke, parkinsons disease or dementia)
• obesity
• patients over 85
• being bedridden
• diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating
• having 5 or more chronic diseases
• taking 5 or more perscription medications

Question 29

Dehydration occurs more quickly & rehydration is less effective in older ____

Answer 29

men

Question 30

How to increase fluid intake

Answer 30

Serving fluids with meals
Ensuring fluids are offered between meals
Serve desserts or foods such as gel or ice cream that count as fluids

Question 31

____ glasses of fluid/day will prevent dehydration in most older adults

Answer 31

greater than or equal to 6

Question 32

individualize fluid recommendation

Answer 32

1 ml of fluid/kcal consumed; minimum 1500ml