A 75-year old resident in the nursing home has dementia and experiences a 10-pound weight loss over the course of 2 months.She has become increasingly difficult to feed.The resident often spits out food,pockets food in the corners of her mouth,and frequently drools.The resident's daughter is concerned about her mother's nutritional status.What is the initial action of the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is important to do a careful assessment for swallowing disorders and other factors that influence intake before considering severe dietary restrictions or feeding tubes,especially in patients with dementia.Feeding tubes are not the first line of action; a complete assessment is done to identify the problem.The word vigorous implies force feeding,which is never recommended.It would be especially contraindicated in this patient because there is evidence of a swallowing problem (spitting out food,pocketing food,and excessive drooling).Option D is not the first line of action.Even residents with dementia need to be thoroughly evaluated in order to identify easily correctible/reversible conditions.

A 75-Year Old Resident in the Nursing Home Has Dementia