Nutrition: how the body uses food to maintain health

Nutrient: something found in food that produces energy, promotes growth and health and helps regulate metabolism

Water: most essential nutrient for life, need 64 ounces aids digestion

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Unintended weight loss: common and serious problem for the elderly. It may cause swallowing problems, problems feeding oneself and poor oral care etc.

Record and report meal snack intakes, observations and warning signs, season food to residents liking, allow plenty of time to eat, honor food likes and dislikes, position residents upright

Parenteral Nutrition: nutrients administered directly in the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system.

Nasogastric Tube: a feeding tube that is inserted into the nose and goes to the stomach

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG): feeding tube into the stomach through the abdominal wall.

Gastrostomy: Surgically-created opening into the stomach in order to insert a tube

NPO: Nothing by mouth, which means a person should not have anything to eat or drink

Guidelines for Tube feeding: NAs do not perform tube feedings, but observe carefully for problems and changes, always remain elevated at 30 degrees, if eating 45

Diet cards: Cards that list resident’s name and information about special diets, allergies, likes and dislikes, and other dietary instructions. Follow infection prevention measures

Therapeutic, modified, or special diets: Diets prescribed for people who have certain illnesses, conditions, or food allergies

Fluid Balance: taking in and eliminating equal amounts of fluid

Diuretics: Medications that reduce fluid volume in the body

Puree: to chop, blend, or grind food into a thick paste of baby food consistency.

Thickened Liquids: improves the ability to control fluid in the mouth and throat, cannot offer regular liquids

Assist with grooming/hygiene tasks before dining, suggest trip to bathroom before eating, check environment

Serve food at correct temperature, prepare food, only doing what a resident cannot do encourage residents g do what they can

Verify that it is the right resident, do not touch food to test temperature, identify foods and fluids that are in front of the resident

Special needs: Use assistive devices, use physical cues, use short clear verbal cues, place food on unaffected side of mouth, place food in resident’s field of vision, use imaginary clock to position food explanation, place food and drink close to resident, wait for jaw to relax before removing utensils, remind to chew and swallow, make sure resident has swallowed before offering more food

Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing

Aspiration: the inhalation of food, drink into the lungs

Offer small pieces of food, feed residents slowly.

Intake/Input: The fluid a person consumes

Output: All fluid that is eliminated from the body

1 ounce (oz) = 30 millimeters (mL) or 30 cubic centimeters (cc)

Measure intake first and document

Dehydration: an inadequate amount of fluid in the body

Signs and symptoms: Dried mouth, cracked lips, sunken eyes, dark urine, strong smelling urine, weight loss, abdominal pain complaints.

Fluid Overload: condition when the body cannot handle amount of fluid consumed

Edema:Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues