07/23/98 Nutrition Experts Offer Solutions to Malnutrition in Nursing Homes

Nutrition Experts Offer Solutions to Malnutrition in Nursing Homes

Press Release

July 23, 1998

Media Contacts: Tom Ryan, Doris Acosta, or M. Johnna Thomas
E-mail: media@eatright.org
(Please do not publish/broadcast contact information.)

Nutrition Experts Offer Solutions to Malnutrition in Nursing Homes

CHICAGO -- Malnutrition affects about two of every five elderly nursing home residents* even though, according to The American Dietetic Association, there are effective and cost-saving solutions to this life-threatening problem.

Malnutrition is prevalent among the nation's two million nursing home residents for many reasons, including advanced disease stages of many residents upon admission, disease processes and nursing home staffing patterns. Malnutrition can be alleviated, however, through improved regulations and greater attention to individual resident needs, according to ADA.

"The scientific knowledge to address and correct the malnutrition problem exists -- unfortunately the resources sometimes aren't available," said ADA president-elect and registered dietitian Ann Gallagher.

President Clinton's announcement this week of new legislative and administrative actions to improve the quality of nursing homes calls for training a broader range of staff and volunteers to assist with resident feeding -- a proposal that supports ADA's longstanding position on the issue. Current regulations restrict the classification of those who can participate in feeding residents.

ADA also calls for increasing resident access to medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitians. "Federal guidelines fall far short of providing adequate time for trained nutrition experts to provide nutrition assessments and recommendations to nursing home residents," Gallagher said.

Medical nutrition therapy begins with assessing a resident's overall nutrition status, followed by prescribing a personalized course of treatment.

A registered dietitian may consider a range of factors including medications, food/drug interactions, physical activity, other complex therapies such as wound healing, dehydration, dysphasia (swallowing and chewing difficulties) and residents' ability to feed themselves. Research shows that medical nutrition therapy can avert more complicated, more expensive health problems down the line, Gallagher said.

"We know that when residents, particularly those with acute illnesses, have access to nutrition services provided by a registered dietitian, their health improves and the cost of treatment drops. It makes sense to focus on medical nutrition therapy as a solution to the malnutrition problem."

Malnutrition, according to ADA, is a state in which someone is not getting proper nutrients because of deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in food or diet. This can weaken a person's body and is harmful to his or her health.

"As people live longer, they are entering nursing homes later in life in more debilitated stages of diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and heart disease," Gallagher said. "They often require very detailed nutrition assessments and careful monitoring."

Too often, Gallagher added, the nutrition assessment and treatment plans residents receive in hospitals are not communicated to the long-term care facilities. "This puts residents at greater risk when entering nursing homes and creates a 'revolving door' effect," she said.

Through its partnership in the Nutrition Screening Initiative, a five-year multifaceted effort promoting routine nutrition screening and better nutrition care for older Americans, ADA is offering "Determine Your Nutrition Health," a checklist of the warning signs of poor nutritional health. It is a useful tool for families, medical and support staff and other caregivers.

Single copies of "Determine Your Nutrition Health" are available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Nutrition Screening Initiative, 1010 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20007

The Chicago-based American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. With nearly 70,000 members, ADA serves the public by promoting nutrition, health and well-being.

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*Source: Nutrition Screening Initiative

Malnutrition In Nursing Homes Key Issues 

Why is there a high incidence of malnutrition in nursing homes?

  • People are living longer and, as a result, there is a higher incidence of residents that have become debilitated and are at the end stages of their disease or aging process
  • Low staffing levels and insufficient time -- including inadequate time for a trained nutrition professional -- to assess and monitor nutritional status and meal times
  • Regulatory restrictions prohibit facilities from utilizing a range of staff and volunteers in the feeding process

 

What steps can be taken to address the problem of malnutrition in nursing homes?

  • Sufficient time is needed in nursing facilities to assess and monitor nutritional status and meal times
  • Registered dietitians, a part of an interdisciplinary team, have the training and expertise to address nutrition well being of nursing home residents
  • Facilities must have the ability to train a broader range of staff and volunteers to assist in feeding residents
  • Many successful long term care facilities have developed creative methods for residents (i.e. finger foods vs. 3 meals/ day) to encourage food consumption and improve the eating environment to address social, emotion, physical and other concerns

Source: The American Dietetic Association