Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Report: 30 Percent of Residents with Dementia are Undernourished

According to a new report from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), 30 percent of nursing home residents with dementia are undernourished. "Undernourished" refers to an insufficient intake of calories, protein or other nutrients.

ADI encourages LTC providers to take steps to evaluate the eating habits of residents with dementia and maximize the nutrition they receive. The researchers noted that one method of doing this is to provide oral nutritional supplements, which can can help stabilize or even increase a resident's weight.

Other recommendations included:

  • Staff training
  • Enhancing the mealtime environment 
  • Introducing nutritional standards of care specifically for those with dementia
  • A more comprehensive workforce development program 

To learn more, click here.

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