Question

An older adult has chronic body aches due to muscular dystrophy. The associated pain has caused the patient to feel hopeless. On a home visit, the nurse finds that the patient eats less and has lost significant weight. Which nursing interventions would promote nutritional status in the patient? Select all that apply.

a. Encouraging consumption of food that the patient prefers
b. Arranging for home delivery of food
c. Emphasizing parenteral nutrition
d. Planning for social activities that involve eating
e. Encouraging more foods at each meal with a reduction in the number of meals

Answer 1

Nursing interventions to promote nutritional status in an older adult with muscular dystrophy could include offering preferred foods, arranging home-delivered meals, and integrating social activities that involve eating to encourage nutritional intake.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dealing with an older adult who has chronic body aches due to muscular dystrophy and is experiencing nutritional deficits as a result, several nursing interventions could be beneficial. These include:

• Encouraging consumption of food that the patient prefers to promote intake.
• Arranging for home delivery of food to ensure easy access to meals.
• Planning for social activities that involve eating, which can encourage eating in a pleasant environment and may improve intake.

While parenteral nutrition may be an option in severe cases of malnutrition where oral intake is not possible, it typically would not be emphasized in cases where oral intake can still be managed. Encouraging more foods at each meal with a reduction in the number of meals might not be suitable for this patient, especially if they have a reduced appetite and are experiencing weight loss as increasing the volume of food at each sitting could be overwhelming and counterproductive.