To assess nutrition risk for the person in your care, check the following questions. If the answer to most of the points is Yes, the person is at risk and you need to contact the doctor for a diet. Answer the questions every six months or whenever you notice big changes in weight or eating habits.
- Has she recently lost weight? About how much?
- Has she had any recent appetite loss?
- For how long? (days, weeks, months)
- Does she have difficulty chewing?
- Does she have difficulty swallowing?
- Food allergies?
- A special diet?
- Have you been given instructions about her diet?
- Does she eat fewer than 2 meals per day?
- Does she eat few fruits, vegetables, and dairy products?
- How many servings per day?
- Fruits?
- Vegetables?
- Dairy?
- Does she drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day?
- Does she eat most of her meals alone?
