Search Results

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) This is also a measure of waste products in your blood. BUN rises when kidneys don’t work well. Values can be affected by diet. Normal lab values: 7 to 20 mg/dl. If you have kidney disease, expect higher values and talk with your Physician about a goal level.

Calcium (Ca) Calcium is a mineral needed for bone and dental health. Normal: 8.8 to 10.5 mg/dl. Elevated values may indicate decreased kidney function and often occurs as a result of hyperphosphatemia.

Daily Food Consumption Pattern for Older Adults Milk About 2 to 3 cups total: 1 cup fluid milk, Yogurt, custard, Pudding, soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt 1 ½ oz. cheese 1 ½ cup cream soup made with milk 2 cups cottage cheese, regular ice cream or ice milk Calcium equivalent milk group, protein equivalent meat group (1) lower fat, lower calorie Meat/Substitute About 4 to 6 oz. total: 1 oz. lean meat, fish (piece the size of a deck of cards) 1 egg 1 chicken breast or leg and thigh 1 oz. cheese ½-3/4 cup cottage cheese, tuna, other flaked meat or fish 1 cup dried beans or peas 2 Tbsp. peanut butter 2 slices low fat cold cuts Fruit About 3 pieces total: 1 ½ cups Vitamin C source daily 1 piece or ½ -¾ cup Vegetables About 4 to 6 servings total: 2-3 cups, cooked 4 times 4 to 6 cups - raw weekly ½ -1 cup Bread/Cereals About 8, 1 oz .servings total: 1 slice whole grain or enriched bread ½ bun, bagel, English muffin ½ cup rice. Pasta, cooked cereal 1 oz. cup cold cereal 3-6 crackers (1 Serving) Fluid 8 cups +/- 1 cup Water or other Liquid (8 oz./240 cc/ml) daily Wine in moderation - Ask a Physician or Health Care Provider Fats & Sweets As needed for Calories Servings: 1 t. Margarine/Butter/Oil, Nuts, Sour Cream, Bacon

The following changes occur with aging: Integumentary System This system contains the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. The mucous membranes line the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive system. The skin contains oil and sweat glands. Skin Oil production is decreased. Skin becomes dry and wrinkled. Flat brown spots, often called “liver spots” and often appear on the hands or face. These spots are harmless. Sometimes the small blood vessels in the skin break easily. This may indicate a lack in vitamin C or K. Sometimes the small blood vessels in the skin break easily. This may indicate a lack in Vitamin C or K. Good nutrition is necessary for maintaining this system. The fat padding below the skin becomes thinner and more fragile. The skin becomes wrinkled and loses its turgor. The skin is more easily injured. Good nutrition (protein, vitamin is necessary for healing.) The skin looks paler Hair The hair becomes thinner; the hair strands are smaller with less pigment. The hair becomes dry, brittle, and less dense Less melanin and the hair turn gray. Hair loss with aging, the hair grows slower. 25% of men begin to show baldness by 30 and 2/3 have significant baldness by age 60. (associated with male hormone testosterone) Nails The nail becomes thick, yellow, dull, and brittle and may grow slower. Fingernails may fragment. Toenails may become hard and thick. Musculoskeletal System The bones and muscles make up the musculoskeletal system. The bones give shape to the body. The muscles are attached to the bones. The bones and muscles work together to allow the body to move. A joint is formed where two bones come together. The following aging changes are seen in the musculoskeletal system: Calcium and other minerals are lost The bones are softer and weaker. (This is called osteoporosis.) Men - 12% loss. Women - 25% loss. The bones break more easily. (A break in a bone is called a fracture.) A minor fall or sudden, unusual movement may cause a fracture. The spinal column becomes shorter There is a loss of height. 2 ½ inches by 75 years of age. Up to 3 inches by 85 or 90 years of age. Stooped posture. “Dowager’s hump” (kyphosis) in women May be harder to position properly for eating. Muscle tone is lost. Strength and endurance are of muscle on the hand and the space lost between the thumb and first finger.) Fatigue and weakness increase especially after activities. Hand grip lessens Muscles lose their elasticity. There is a general stiffness of the body. Joint flexibility is lost. The joints become stiff. Range of motion (ROM) is decreased. Arthritis may produce changes in joint function and pain. Problems with walking (ambulation, gait) may develop. Pain may cause lack of appetite.

Gastrointestinal (GI) System The gastrointestinal or digestive system provides nutrients and fluid to the body. The process of digestion begins in the mouth. The food is chewed and mixed with saliva. After food is swallowed, it passes through the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach contains digestive juices which help digest food. Food moves on the small intestine. The gallbladder, liver, and pancreas make substances that help digestion in the small intestine. After food in the small intestine is completely broken down, it is absorbed into the blood. Food that is not absorbed into the body goes into the large intestine. Fluid is absorbed into the body from the larger intestine. Finally, the unabsorbed food (stool, feces) is passed from the body. There are many changes of aging that occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Saliva decreases as the saliva glands. Dry mouth makes become smaller with chewing difficult Some drugs also cause dry mouth. Gums recede. “Root cavities” increase The sensation of thirst decreases. The Fluid intake may not decrease the number of taste buds on the tongue is be adequate. The ability to taste salty and sweet foods decreases. It takes more salt and sugar to produce these tastes. Sour and bitter taste usually remains. Eating is less enjoyable. Changes in the nerves and muscles of the Swallowing is more esophagus (food pipe) causes slower difficult. (This is swallowing (called dysphagia.) Sometimes swallowing is painful. (This pain may be felt as chest pain. A doctor or health care provider should evaluate any changes. The area at the bottom of the esophagus Food and acid from the stomach “backup” into the esophagus. This irritates the esophagus. This “back up” causes heartburn or chest pain. Bending over or lying down after eating increases the pain and may cause vomiting. Pain may occur at night. A sour taste may occur in the mouth. Blood flow to the stomach decreases. Food remains and less digestive juices are produced. Absorption of carbohydrates, fats, vitamin D, and calcium decreases. The muscle movements of the large Constipation bowel (peristalsis) slows down. Constipation may cause a poor appetite. Overuse of laxatives may interfere with nutrition. Note: Sores or white patches in the mouth are not normal. A doctor should always check these lesions to be sure they are not cancerous.

Sensory Systems The senses of sight (vision), hearing, smell, taste, and touch make up this system. These senses provide information for the nervous system. Many changes of aging can be seen in the senses. Vision: The lens of the eye becomes thick, Vision is less clear. It is harder to see objects that are in the distance. It is harder to read fine print. Color perception changes. Depth perception changes. The pupil becomes smaller. Less light enters the eye. Lighting should be bright, even (does not cast shadows), and no glare The ability to move comfortable between areas of light and darkness is lost Hearing: Structures in the ear become stiff. The ability to hear is decreased. Sounds are muffled. Communication may be misunderstood. Distinguishing conversation from background noise is difficult. Ability to hear Upper register sounds is lost, i.e., high voices and sounds, such as “s” and “f”. Hearing aids magnify all sounds. Background noise during meals may increase anxiety and decrease eating. Ear wax gets hard and increases. Wax in the ear decrease hearing. Smell: There are fewer sensory nerves in the nose. Loss of smell decreases appetite. Taste: The number of taste buds on the tongue The ability to taste is reduced, salty and sweet taste of foods decreases. It takes more salt and sugar to produce these tastes. Sour and bitter tastes usually remain. Eating is less enjoyable. Note: A decrease in the sense of smell and taste combined with poor vision may lead to the eating of spoiled food. Touch: The sense of touch decreases. A loss of ability to tell the difference between: Hot and cold temperatures Sharp and dull objects Various food consistencies Accidents may happen during meal preparation or eating. Fine motor coordination may be decreased. It may be difficult to open cans and containers, to cut food, and to group objects. The ability to feel pain decreases Burns or injuries may be ignored when pain is not felt. Accidents may happen during meal preparation or eating.

Common Causes for Change in Food Consumption Behaviors: Bereavement Disease management/prevention Confusion Depression Fear Social Withdrawal/Isolation Financial Limits Ignorance Reduced ability to procure, prepare, and store food Reliance on economic assistance programs Physical impairments

Respiratory System The respiratory system is made up of the nose, mouth, air passage, and the lungs. Breathing is a vital body function because the body cells need oxygen (a gas in the air) in order to function properly. Breathing in (inhaling) brings oxygen into the lungs; and from the lungs, the oxygen goes to the blood. The heart pumps the blood and oxygen throughout the body. As the cells use the oxygen, they produce another gas, carbon dioxide, which goes back into the blood. When the blood reaches the lungs, the carbon dioxide is breathed out (exhaled). The following changes take place in the respiratory system with aging. Bone changes in the ribs and spine. Chest wall expansion is cause the chest to become rigid and decreased. Rounder in shape. Deep breathing is more and is called senile emphysema difficult. “Senile emphysema” is not the same as the emphysema of chronic lung disease. Muscle fiber of the air passages loses Deep breathing is more its elasticity and becomes stiff. Changes 1 and 2 cause breathing to The amount of oxygen occurs more in the upper part of the chest; taken in is decreased. A decrease of oxygen does not cause problems during rest. Shortness of breath or fatigue may occur: When mind or body are stressed (illness) When too many activities are done without rest periods. Older persons “space” their activities so they can breathe easily. Exercise helps to increase the rate and depth of breathing. However, too many activities performed just before mealtime may make the older person “too tired to eat.” The respiratory rated does not increase with aging. The normal respiratory rate is 14 to 18 breaths a minute. An increased rate, fatigue, or confusion may be seen when there is a respiratory problem or infection.

Cardiovascular System The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. The heart pumps them blood through the blood vessels. The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body. The waste produced by the cells is removed by the blood. The numbers of heartbeats are counted by taking the pulse. The following changes occur with aging. The heart pumps with less force. Less blood is pumped with each beat. The heart has to work harder to pump the blood. Fatigue and tiredness may occur when activity is strenuous. The heart rate may become slower Less blood is or irregular. Pumped to the body. Fatigue or tiredness may occur. The heart size does not change. An enlarged heart is a sign of disease. The heart valves and blood vessels The heart must become thick and rigid. Work harder to pump the blood. Blood pressure goes up. Body cells may not get enough oxygen or nutrients. The flow of blood to heart is decreased. (A decreased blood flow to any part is called ischemia.) Ischemia of the heart muscle that causes pain is called angina. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels may be seen in the older person. Chest pain and shortness of breath may interfere with eating. Drugs used to treat heart disease often cause loss of appetite.

Urinary System The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys filter the waste products out of the blood and concentrate the urine. The ureters are the tubes that carry the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder stores the urine. The urethra is the passage for voiding the urine. The kidneys produce 1,000 cc to 1,500 cc of urine a day. This is about 40 cc to 60 cc an hour. Urinary output is affected by kidney function and the amount of fluid intake. Fluid intake should be 1,500 cc or more each day. The following changes affect the urinary system in aging: The kidneys become smaller The blood is filtered more slowly. The bladder becomes smaller. Urination is more frequent. (Polyuria) Some older persons believe that drinking less fluid will decrease their need to urinate. This false assumption causes inadequate fluid intake. (Dehydration) With dehydration needs fluids. Frequent urination may result in avoidance of social dining. The bladder loses muscle tone. The bladder may not be emptied completely with voiding. When urine remains in the bladder, it may cause urinary tract infection. Incontinence causes embarrassment. Voiding becomes difficult. The prostate enlarges in men. This enlargement causes difficulty in voiding

Nervous System The brain, spinal cord, sensory nerves, and motor nerves make up the nervous system. The nervous system is the body’s communication system. The five senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) pick up messages from outside the body. These messages are carried over sensory nerves to the spinal cord and the brain. The brain interprets the message and sends a reply through the motor nerves. The following changes in the nervous system occur in aging: The speed of sending the message Reaction time is slower, especially in time of stress. Nerve cells are lost. Sometimes there is some slight loss of memory. This loss is normal. Excessive loss of memory maybe due to disease, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Blood flow to the brain is decreased. Thinking may be somewhat slower, especially in time of stress. Note: These changes cause the nervous system to function more slowly. Changes in this system affect all body systems and cause them to function less well. Most changes in the nervous system that affect eating are caused by disease and not by aging.

What can be recommended to Improve Lifestyle Behaviors: Improve nutrition through food Work on increasing appetite Limit drug substances Ensure adequate food intake Manage medication and prescriptions safely Increase physical exercise/activity Increase socialization Manage acute/chronic disease Adapt to sensory perceptions and disabilities (ie. mouth problems) Increase dependency