Session Objectives
  • To help students find practical ways of integrating 
   nutrition assessment and treatment into geriatric 
   medicine.
  • To learn more about nutrition therapy for 
   unintentional weight loss, malnutrition, 
   hypertension, stroke and dysphagia.
  • To identify geriatric nutrition resources on the 
   web. 
   • AECOM Nutrition Website: 
    http://www.aecom.yu.edu/nutrition/default.htm 
     – Particularly useful parts of the AECOM Nutrition 
      website:
       •Nutrition resources: 
        http://www.aecom.yu.edu/nutrition/links.htm
       •Nutrition presentations:
        http://www.aecom.yu.edu/nutrition/presentation/Presentation.
        htm
       •Nutrition Handbook for Medical Professionals
        http://www.aecom.yu.edu/nutrition/NutritionHandbook.htm
   “I’m just not Hungry” Geriatric Nutrition Case #1 
   Lauren Cantor, MBA; Alice Fornari, EdD; CJ Segal-
  Isaacson, EdD; Darwin Deen, MD and Lisa Hark, PhD
   Chief Complaint:
   Mrs. Heraldo is a 78 year old Latina woman brought in 
   by her niece to you, her new primary care provider. The 
   niece is concerned that Mrs. H looks much thinner. Mrs. 
   H seems unconcerned about her weight loss and just 
   repeats she is old now and “just not hungry.” 
   Mrs. H has no idea if she has lost weight. However, her 
   chart documents that she is 5’4” tall and weighed 174 
   lbs (BMI 29.9 kg/m2) 3 months ago. Today she weighs 
   154 lbs (BMI 26.4 kg/m2). 
   Continuation of Chief Complaint:
   The niece explains that her aunt lives alone in a 
   subsidized, senior housing facility. Mrs. Heraldo tells you 
   that her two children, both grown, live in California and 
   Arizona and she sees them about once a year. Her 
   husband died 5 years ago. Her eyes tear a bit as she 
   tells you this.
          Discussion Question #1-4
  • What is the percentage of body weight that Mrs. 
   H has lost in the last three months?
  • Given that Mrs. H’s BMI is still in the overweight 
   range, is her weight loss currently a significant 
   issue? Why or why not?
  • What should our weight goals for Mrs. H be at 
   this point?
  • Is Mrs. H’s weight loss to be expected at her age? 
   Why or why not?