Digestion and Nutrition

A 60-year-old client asks why it is so easy to gain weight but difficult to lose. How should the nurse respond to this client?

"Basal metabolic rate declines by 2% for each decade of life after age 25."

A gerontological nurse is aware that older adults have different nutritional requirements than younger adults. Which of the following teaching points reflects these changes in nutritional requirements?

"Overall, you don't need to take in as many calories as you used to."

An older adult client reports often experiencing "indigestion" after eating fatty foods. The client states that this never used to happen when younger and asks the nurse why this is now the case. How will the nurse respond?

"With age, reduced pancreatic secretions can affect the digestion of fatty foods."

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)​ results from

Decreased saliva, some medications, Sjögren's syndrome, mouth breathing, and altered cognition​

An older male client with a history of chronic heart failure is admitted to the hospital with dehydration. Which nursing measure is most important for the nurse to add to this client's plan of care?

Dehydration is a serious problem in older adults. Strict intake and output measurements should be monitored by the nurse to ensure adequate kidney function and identify any complications.

What promotes bowel elimination naturally?

Fluid, Fiber, Exercise, and proper timing of restroom breaks.

Dysphagia​ (difficulty swallowing) is caused by

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stroke, and structural disorders​

What are the effects of Bile salt synthesis decreases​

Increase in the risk of gallstone development

An older client taking warfarin sodium is admitted upon experiencing unusual bleeding after taking ginkgo biloba. Which dietary consideration will the nurse include in the plan of care until the international normalized ratio (INR) is within normal limits?

Increase intake of green leafy vegetables, such as kale.● 9%

The nurse reviews national dietary guidelines and healthy eating guide with an older adult client. Which statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

National dietary guidelines and healthy eating guides limit foods high in salt.

An older adult client has just completed eating breakfast. What action will the nurse take before beginning morning hygiene care?

Offer the bed pan.

An older client presents with decreased skin turgor; a brown, dry tongue; sunken cheeks; concentrated urine; and a blood urea value of 70 mg/dL (25 mmol/L). Based on these findings, the nurse should also assess for which priority finding?

Sodium and potassium imbalances

A client's family brings an older adult family member to the emergency department, stating, "My parent is not eating well." The nurse should assess for which sign of malnutrition?

Some of the clinical signs of malnutrition include: weight 10% below or 20% above the ideal range; serum albumin level lower than 3.5 g/dL (35 g/L); hemoglobin level below 12 g/dL (120 g/L); hematocrit value below 35% (0.35).

An older adult client experiences heartburn, belching, and regurgitation. Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this client?

The client is demonstrating signs of a hiatal hernia. A barium swallow is used to diagnose this disorder

True or false. Atrophy of the small and large intestine, with fewer cells present on the absorbing surface of the intestinal wall, causes certain vitamins and minerals to have a decreased rate of absorption.

True. Absorption of vitamin B, vitamin B12, vitamin D, Calcium, and iron is decreased in the intestine of the older adult.

Does the stomach have a higher ph in older adults?

Yes, the stomach's ph increases making it less acidic.

The nurse suspects that an older adult's diarrhea is related to medications. Which medication should the nurse consider as causing this client's problem?

ampicillin

The nurse notes that an older adult client appears pale. Which action should the nurse take to determine if the pallor is caused by a gastrointestinal problem?

check for blood in the stool

Codeine is identified as having the potential to cause

constipation

Bowel Incontinence​ is most often associated with

fecal impaction​

What is diverticular disease?

inflammation of the diverticula most common in the large intestine-- especially the sigmoid colon

The nurse assesses an older adults client's nutritional status. Which anthropometric measurement should the nurse use to help determine if the client is experiencing protein-calorie malnutrition?

midarm circumference

An older adult states experiencing heart palpitations ever since adding a vitamin and nutrient supplement to the diet. The nurse checks the label of the client's supplement. For which vitamin or nutrient is the nurse assessing?

potassium High doses of potassium can cause cardiac problems or even lead to cardiac arrest.

The nurse notes that an older adult client has difficulty swallowing a bolus of food when eating. Which suggestion will the nurse make to the health care provider based upon this observation?

referral to a speech-language pathologist

The nurse notes an older adult client has cracks along the lip line. What does the nurse suspect as the reason for this finding?

riboflavin deficiency

An older adult client says food does not taste the same as it used to. What should the nurse consider this client is experiencing?

tongue atrophy

Presbyesophagus results in

weaker esophageal contractions and weakness of the sphincter.