Title: Explain common therapeutic diets.
Course: Home Health Aide (14053) > Section: Understanding Nutrition and Meal Preparation

Explanation should include

- special diets based on client care plans (e.g., liquid, soft, low-calorie, high-calorie, bland, diabetic)
- nutritional supplements such as Ensure^®, Glucerna^®, and Sustical^®
- documentation of calorie counts and food intake studies
- ways to plan nutritious, therapeutic-diet menus in accordance with a client’s budget, culture, and care plan.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why should a home health aide understand common therapeutic diets?
- When the client care plan specifies a special therapeutic diet (e.g., liquid, soft, low-calorie, high-calorie, bland, diabetic), where and how can a home health aide find detailed helpful information about this diet?
- What is the role of nutritional supplements such as Ensure^®, Glucerna^®, and Sustical^®? Can these products be substituted for all other foods? Why, or why not?
- Where and how can a home health aide get assistance with planning nutritious, therapeutic-diet menus in accordance with a client’s budget, culture, and care plan?