PROGRESSING DEVELOPMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING Essay

PROGRESSING DEVELOPMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING - Essay Example In some situations the person may make a rigid determination not to eat. In some cases malnutrition might have taken place before such older people are admitted to the hospital. However, in some cases malnutrition may be a result of suboptimal gerontological care and management, medical or surgical interventions, the psychosocial effect of hospitalisation or a lack of proactive, therapeutic personcentred interventions purpose at promoting adequate food and nutrition.  An identified caused of malnutrition in older adult is the loss of f feeding abilityy which is a common problem for older adults (Kolodny & Malek 1991, Kayser-Jones 1992, Herne 1995, Kayser-Jones & Schell 1997a, Berry & Marcus 2000) especially those with dementia (Watson 2002, Manthorpe & Watson 2003); With cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, malnutrition is unavoidable. Such older adults do not have the cognitive ability to initiate or continue effective feeding strategies. I n contrast the older person with neuromotor disorders, such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease, may cognitively manage feeding but might not have the neuromotor skills to help chew or swallow effectively.  Moreover , the older people living in retirement and nursing homes need other support, including help with dressing, defecation and help with eating. The residents in the nursing homes need extensive nursing care and medical care as they may have diseases such as cancer, stroke sequelae or severe dementia (Hedin, 1993).   . Several studies show risk of malnutrition between 30% and 38% (Visvanathan et al. 2003); in older people (>65 years) who had recently moved to a residential home. However the problem of malnutrition still persists among older people living at home, who need help, as shown by the percentage of 3.5% reported by Thorslund et al (199). Alternatively 33–37% would be at risk of malnourished when they move home (Wikby et al. 2006).   Analysis   As we age, it is more important to look into our health and well being and the the prevention of malnutrition should be taken seriously among older people with dementia. It is much easier to prevent malnutrition among older people, rather than treating them after they have become ill from it, (Larsson et al. 1990, Payette 2005). Patients who receive information about the need for protein and energy intake and are active i have an increased intake (Pedersen 2005).   l. Malnutrition can have consequences both on the individuals affected and the carers by causing morbidity, hospital admission, delayed discharge and an increased dependence on social care and next of kin ( Van Nes et al. 2001 ).   Risk factors identified for malnutrition in earlier international studies are diseases (Beck et al. 1999, Payette 2005, Alberda et al. 2006, Chen et al. 2007), to much medications, low functional status (Payette 2005) symptoms of depression. Additionally, involuntary weight loss among older pe ople was associated with disease (Callen & Wells 2005, Payette 2005), inadequate nutrient intake and consequences for health (Payette 2005).  In 2001, a concept analysis of malnutrition in older people was first published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, in which the critical attributes of malnutrition in older people were identified to include insufficient dietary intake, muscle wasting, weight loss, poor appetite and downward trajectory.