Today we had a registered dietician come speak to our class about nutrition for the elderly and also nutrition for people who have been hospitalized. This was a very eye opening lecture for me because I really wasn't aware of the importance of getting enough nutrition and even the amount of effort it takes to regain your nutrition after you have been hospitalized. After hearing this lecture, I was surprised about how many people are affected by this and what the hospitals are not considering for the overall recovery of their patients. I think a main takeaway that I got from this lecture is understanding the importance of speaking to a dietician when you notice a patient has risk factors of being malnourished. We have to be the ones to speak up for our patients, because many of times doctors will not address this issue. Also learning how to identify malnutrition:weak grip strength, edema, weight loss, prolonged immobilization, is a very important thing for us to know as future OTs. Another key take away that I learned from this lecture was the amount of caloric intake a person needs in order to stay nourished during hospitalization, and how many patients aren't getting that need filled. If we could simply provide more supplements during their treatment stay, it is proven that their length of stay could decrease by 2 days, which would not only benefit the patient but also the hospital as well!
Interventions:
- My first intervention I thought of was for an adult patient in an ICU setting who has been weaned from the peg tube and is getting ready to go home. OT can provide education about the importance of eating a high protein diet, and explain that your body will need more protein than usual in order to recover. The OT could help the patient set up a food journal, and teach them how to document everything they eat at home so they can make sure they are getting enough calories per day.
- Another intervention I thought of is a group therapy session for women living in a SNF who have experienced a decrease of appetite and weight loss. The group session could be a weekly lunch cooking class where the group chooses recipes to make and then enjoys them as a group. We have learned that by being around a kitchen and smelling the aromas of fresh food increases appetite and also socialization as well. During these sessions the OT could also provide education about increasing protein and vitamin D, which are risk factors for elderly women.
Interventions:
- My first intervention I thought of was for an adult patient in an ICU setting who has been weaned from the peg tube and is getting ready to go home. OT can provide education about the importance of eating a high protein diet, and explain that your body will need more protein than usual in order to recover. The OT could help the patient set up a food journal, and teach them how to document everything they eat at home so they can make sure they are getting enough calories per day.
- Another intervention I thought of is a group therapy session for women living in a SNF who have experienced a decrease of appetite and weight loss. The group session could be a weekly lunch cooking class where the group chooses recipes to make and then enjoys them as a group. We have learned that by being around a kitchen and smelling the aromas of fresh food increases appetite and also socialization as well. During these sessions the OT could also provide education about increasing protein and vitamin D, which are risk factors for elderly women.
Comments
Post a Comment