Answer to Question 1
A thorough nutrition assessment includes four major areas: physical assessment, functional ability, psychological health, and socio environmental factors.
The specific components are as follows:
a . Anthropometric measures include height, weight, and skin fold measures that are affected by aging.
b. Clinical assessment evaluates the condition of the hair, skin, nails, and other physical attributes.
c. Biochemical assessment may include serum albumin because low serum albumin levels are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older adults.
d. Dietary assessment detects persons who avoid certain food groups, adhere to unusual dietary practices, or consume excessive or insufficient amounts of essential nutrients.
e. Functional assessment measures changes in basic functions necessary to maintain independent living.
f. Medication assessment notes the types and doses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and evaluates possible nutrient-drug interactions.
g. Social assessment examines financial resources, living arrangements, and social support.
Answer to Question 2
The first step is to build widespread public interest in the issue that deserves government attention. One of the most effective ways to build public interest and support for an issue is to work through the mediaradio, television, newspapers, and the Internet. From here, the issue must get onto the institutional agenda as defined by each legislative body of the government. This is accomplished by winning support for the issue among interest groups, congressional committees or subcommittees, and administrative agencies.
The nurse conducts the health history as the first step in the nursing assessment
Principles in older adult learning
Patient teaching: nose and sinus assessment
Nursing history for lung assessment
Circulation Assessment
Many older adults live active lives well into their eighties and beyond.