Nutritional Assessment

Red Yoder is an 80-year-old farmer who lives alone in the farmhouse where he grew up. It is located 20 miles outside of town. Red has been a widower for 10 years. Red rarely cooks for himself and mainly eats packaged or processed foods. His son, Jon, manages the farm now, but Red is still involved in the decision making. Red's current medical problems include insulin-dependent diabetes complicated by an open foot wound. He also has some incontinence and difficulty sleeping.

Red is awaiting a visit from the home health nurses. He relates that he has an open wound on his big toe that developed after walking in a new pair of shoes. When his daughter-in-law, Judy, saw the wound, she called the family doctor, who suggested a visit by the wound care nurse, who works with the home health agency. Red agreed as long as his VA benefits cover the costs. Red is aware that his son and daughter-in-law have concerns about him living alone, but Red insists that while he needs a little help from Jon and Judy at times, he is still capable of caring for himself.

• What are Red’s strengths?
• What are your concerns for this patient?
• What is the cause of your concern?
• What information do you need?
• What are you going to do about it?
• What is Red experiencing?
• APA FORMAT REQUIRED
• REFERENCE:

• Jarvis, C. (2016). Physical examination & health assessment (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders. 

• • Chapter 11: Nutritional Assessment