Question

1.What does Senescence mean?

2. Explain the Definition/Cause, how does it affect nutritional status and intervention (What can be done ?) of dysgeusia, dysphagia and xerostomia.

Answer 1

1,THE WORD SENESCENCE MEAN BIOLOGICAL AGING. THE CONDITION OR PROCESS OF DETERIORATION WITH AGE.

2, THE SENESCENCE IS DEFINED AS THE PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF FUNCTIONS . THIS AGE RELATED DECREASES OCCURS ALONG WITH DECREASING FERTILITY AND INCREASED MORTALITY.

THE EXACT ETIOLOGY REMAINS TO BE DETERMINED AND IS MULTIFACTORIAL PROCESS INVOLVING GENETICS, OXIDATIVE STRESS, DIET AND ENVIRONMENT. MAINTAINING ADEQUATE NUTRITION CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR THE OLDER ADULT FOR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL REASONS. PHYSIOLOGICALLY FOOD MAY BE LESS APPEALING WITH THE DECLINE IN TASTE AND SMELL RESULTING IN ANOREXIA, LOSS OF APPETITE.

CHEWING IS DIFFICULT WITH DENTURES OR LOSS OF TEETH. SWALLOWING AND DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS MAY ALSO RESULT BECAUSE OF DECREASE IN SALIVA ,GASTRIC MOTILITY AND ENZYME PRODUCTION. THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS SHOULD KEEP A 3 DAY DIETARY HISTORY. ANALYSIS OF THIS RECORD DETERMINE DIETARY ADEQUACY. ATTENTION TO AND CORRECTION OF MANY REASONS FOR POOR NUTRITION IN THE ELDERLY PERSON IS AN IMPORTANT NURSING RESPONSIBILTY. DYSGEUSIA (altered tastes) DYSPHAGIA(difficulty in swallowing)XEROSTOMIA(dryness of mouth) WHICH IS MOST COMMON IN SENESCENCE WHICH CAN BE INTERVENE BY GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TAKING MORE FLUID INTAKE WITH HIGH NUTRITIONAL VALUE.( HIGH CALORIED FLUID DIET).