Clinical Applications Case Study: Situational Problem of an Elderly Woman Mrs. J

Question

Clinical Applications Case Study: Situational Problem of an Elderly Woman Mrs. Johnson, a recently widowed 78-year-old woman, lives alone in a three-bedroom house in Atlanta, Georgia. A fall 1 year ago resulted in a broken hip, and she now depends on a walker for limited mobility. Her only child, a daughter, lives in Portland, Oregon, and does not want to bear the burden of responsibility for her mother. Mrs. Johnson's only income is a monthly Social Security check for $1100. Her monthly mort- gage payment, property taxes, insurance payments, and utility and phone bills amount to $907. A recent medical examination revealed that Mrs. Johnson has iron-deficiency anemia and that she has lost 12 pounds during the past 3 months. Her current weight is 80 pounds and she is 5 feet, 2 inches tall. Mrs. Johnson states that she has not been hungry, and her daily diet is repetitious: broth, a little cottage cheese and canned fruit, saltine crackers, and hot tea. She lacks energy, she rarely leaves the house, and she appears to be emaciated and generally distraught. QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS 1. Identify Mrs. Johnson's personal problems, and describe how they might be influencing her eating habits. How could her physical problems have influenced her food intake? What nutritional improvements could she make in her diet (include food suggestions), and how are these related to her physical needs at this stage of her life? What practical suggestions do you have for helping Mrs. Johnson to cope with her physical and social environment? What resources, income sources, food, and companionship can you suggest? How do you think these suggestions would benefit her nutritional status and overall health?

Explanation / Answer

1. Her physical problems are: old age, limited mobility and low income. Her personal problems are influencing her nutritional status. Due to her limited mobility she is not able to cook variety of foods. She rarely goes out of her house and due to the low income she is unable to get raw materials for preparing her foods.
2. Since she is old aged and with iron deficiency anaemia, she needs a diet rich in iron content. She has to include foods rich in protein and carbohydrates. Include meat foods, brans, cereals. Avoid canned foods.

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