Eating and drinking needs of elderly

Dober pristop k razumevanju človeka so njegove potrebe, zato je analiza človekovih potreb nenadosmestljivo izhodišče za delo z ljudmi. Dolžnost medicinske sestre je, da na starostnika gleda kot na celoto z vsemi njegovimi razsežnostmi in potrebami, zmožnostmi ter možnostmi in nalogami. Poznavanje in upoštevanje vseh človekovih potreb je pogoj za delo z ljudmi in za ljudi. Pri diplomskem delu nam je v veliko pomoč konceptualni model Virginije Henderson, ki je uporabljala zasnovo človekovih potreb. V diplomskem delu smo predstavili starostnika in pomen uravnotežene prehrane, ki je pogoj za dobro zdravje, boljše počutje in kondicijo starostnika. Predstavili smo težave in motnje pri prehranjevanju starostnikov ter najpogostejše bolezni, ki pogojujejo dietno prehrano starostnika. Z raziskavo smo želeli ugotoviti samostojnost starostnikov pri prehranjevanju in pitju in ali je starostnikom omogočena dietna prehrana. Želeli smo ugotoviti zadovoljstvo starostnikov s prehrano in vključevanje starostnikov v sestavo jedilnikov. Raziskavo smo izvedli leta 2011, s pomočjo anketnega vprašalnika, ki je vseboval 20 vprašanj. V raziskavo je bilo vključenih 30 starostnikov oziroma stanovalcev iz doma starejših v Mariboru. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da je bila večina vprašanih starostnikov samostojna pri prehranjevanju in pitju. Ugotovili smo, da je starostnikom omogočen dietni režim prehrane in da je več kot polovica starostnikov zadovoljna s prehrano. Iz rezultatov je razvidno, da starostniki delno sodelujejo pri sestavi jedilnikov. Stanovalci si želijo, da bi bolj upoštevali mnenja ostalih starostnikov, ki niso v komisiji za sestavljanje jedilnikov. V domovih starostnikov je pomembna organizacija delavnic za zdravo prehrano, okrogle mize, diskusijske ure o zdravi prehrani, katerih cilj je zajeti čim širši krog starostnikov. Pomembno je osveščanje starostnikov o pomenu zdrave prehrane, zdravem načinu prehranjevanja ter o tveganjih za zdravje, kar izvajata klinični dietetik in odgovorna medicinska sestra.Good approaches to understanding the human are his needs. This is why the analysis of human needs is an indispensable starting point for working with people. Nurses’ duty is to look at the elderly as a whole with all its dimensions, needs, capabilities, opportunities and tasks. Knowledge and observance of all human needs are preconditions for working with and for people. Our diploma paper is based on a conceptual model of Virginia Henderson, who applied the concept of human needs. It also presents the elderly and the importance of a balanced diet, which is a precondition for the elderly’s good health, better welfare and condition. We presented the elderly’s problems and eating disorders and also the most common diseases that condition the elderly’s diet. The objective of our research was to determine the elderly’s independence in eating and drinking and whether they are provided with the possibility to diet. We wanted to assess the elderly’s satisfaction with the diet and the integration of older people in menu planning. The research was performed in 2011 by using the questionnaire. The study included 30 elderly residents of home for the aged in Maribor. The results showed that the majority of the elderly is independent in eating and drinking. We found out that the elderly have the possibility to choose a dietary regime and that more than half of the elderly is satisfied with provided food. The results also show that older people are partially involved in menu planning, but residents wish that the views of those, who are not members of the menu planning committee, would also be considered. In the homes for the aged it is important to organize workshops, round tables and discussions on healthy eating with aim to include the widest possible range of older people. It is also important to raise the elderly’s awareness of the importance of a healthy diet, healthy eating and health hazards, which is implemented by a clinical dietitian and a nurse