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Nursing Assistant Monthly
Healthy nutrition
The CNA’s role
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Anatomy of a healthy diet
 Bright-colored fruits and vegetables
 Whole, enriched grains
 Low-fat dairy products
 Beans and nuts
 Fish, lean meats, and eggs
 Liquid oils and spreads low in trans fat
 Spices to replace salt whenever possible
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Nutrition in older adults
 More than 50 percent of residents require help eating.
 One-third of adults 75 years old and older are underweight.
 Older adults require fewer calories but the same vitamins
and minerals.
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Challenges to healthy eating
 Difficulty using utensils
 Problems chewing and swallowing due to paralysis
 Painful teeth or dentures
 Diminished sense of taste and smell
 Difficulty recognizing cues for hunger and thirst
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Warning signs
Poor nutrition:
Dehydration:
 Slow wound healing
 Dry mouth
 Ridges in nails
 Cracked lips
 Brittle, dry hair
 Sunken eyes with dark circles
 Dry, red eyes
 Dark urine with strong odor
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Nutrition and disease
Common chronic illnesses impacted by nutrition:
 Cardiovascular disease
 Cerebrovascular disease
 Diabetes
 Cancer
 Chronic kidney disease
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Ways to improve the dining experience
 Wash residents’ hands and place dentures comfortably
before mealtime.
 Seat residents with companions they enjoy.
 When possible, transfer residents to dining chairs.
 Seat them up to the table with feet flat on the floor and
knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
 Offer assistance opening containers and pouring
beverages.
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Ways to improve the dining experience
 Ask residents if they like their food and communicate their
preferences to dining staff.
 Don’t rush residents to finish their meals.
 When assisting a resident with eating, sit down and
connect with them.
 When feeding residents pureed diets, don’t mix the foods
together.
March 2015
Healthy nutrition
Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.