Senior Risk Assessment

Nurses must be able to assess and conclude whether a senior may have risk factors that could affect their health. There are many tools available to us to determine if various conditions will put our senior at risk and if so, we are able to teach and guide them toward proper solutions to help alleviate or eliminate deterioration of their health. The purpose of this paper is interview and assess a friend of the family. I will give a brief social history of the senior, conduct a nutritional screening, assess for any activities of daily living issues using the Katz index scale, and use a falls prevention scale for risks factors that could lead to injuries from a fall. I will also review her medications and her knowledge of each medication. Lastly,
All these symptoms can lead to decreased nutritional status or unhealthy eating. Studies have shown that five to ten percent of elderly people in communities, over the age of 70, suffer from malnourishment, while people in institutions are around 30-65 percent (van Staveren & de Groot, 2011).
The United States Department of Agriculture has decided to include recommendations for seniors over the age of 70 by creating a new modified food pyramid. This food pyramid states seniors should buy frozen and canned vegetables, because they last longer, and seniors are unable to go grocery shopping often (BrighterLiving, 2008). Also, a flag at the top of the pyramid reminds seniors of vitamin supplements that need to be included in their daily intake. According to BrighterLiving (2008), an added area to the bottom of the pyramid reminds seniors drinking fluids and exercise are important as
Ms J.B. has multiple sclerosis and is unable to bath or dress herself and has continence issues for her bowels. She wears a catheter and also depends on her family to clean and change the cath regularly. Ms J.B. is able to feed herself, but due to hand contractures, she is completely dependent on someone to prepare her meals. This senior is able to stand and transfer from her bed to her wheelchair without assistance (J.B., personal communication, January 25, 2017). Teaching for this family would involve proper skin care, signs of skin breakdown, due to confinement to either her bed or wheelchair and incontinence issues, and proper sterile procedure for changing her