At-Risk Nutrition Programs

Protect & Prevent

At-Risk nutrition programs

Older persons are generally susceptible to undernutrition and undernourishment has serious negative implications, such as increased risk for unintended weight loss, impaired skin integrity, impaired cognitive, physical and social function which can be linked to reduced quality of life and increased healthcare costs.

Protect & Prevent

At-Risk nutrition programs

Older persons are generally susceptible to undernutrition and undernourishment has serious negative implications, such as increased risk for unintended weight loss, impaired skin integrity, impaired cognitive, physical and social function which can be linked to reduced quality of life and increased healthcare costs.

Regulatory requirement expects that there is ongoing communication and coordination among and between staff within all departments to ensure that the resident assessment, care plan and actual food and nutrition services meet each resident’s daily nutritional and dietary needs and choices.

Evidence-based practice guidelines highlight five areas that should be implemented in clinical practice:

1

To identify residents at nutritional risk.

2

To compile a nutritional care plan (NCP) including goals and treatment plan.

3

To provide appropriate nutritional treatment.

4

To monitor, assess and adjust the treatment.

5

To document the nutritional status and treatment in the medical record.

Regulatory requirement expects that there is ongoing communication and coordination among and between staff within all departments to ensure that the resident assessment, care plan and actual food and nutrition services meet each resident’s daily nutritional and dietary needs and choices.

NCS dietitians are available to help set up Nutrition Risk Programs to:

Monitor residents at nutritional risk.
Provide effective interventions to prevent avoidable significant weight loss in the form of weekly weight monitoring, liberalizing diets to allow varied food options, offering nutritional supplements or fortified foods as necessary to meet increased caloric and protein needs, considering medication interventions (such as: appetite stimulants) and to examine artificial feeding options if all other alternatives are ruled out.
Collaborate with facility team members to create a nutritional care plan going forward in the form of holding monthly weight and wound meetings. Discuss signs of dysphagia, aspiration, or pocketing foods with the SLP and notify the attending physician and responsible party of any significant weight change.

With these procedures in place, undernourishment will be mitigated, skin integrity preserved, and cognitive, social, and physical function protected and enhanced.

NCS dietitians are available to help set up Nutrition Risk Programs to:

Monitor residents at nutritional risk.
Provide effective interventions to prevent avoidable significant weight loss in the form of weekly weight monitoring, liberalizing diets to allow varied food options, offering nutritional supplements or fortified foods as necessary to meet increased caloric and protein needs, considering medication interventions (such as: appetite stimulants) and to examine artificial feeding options if all other alternatives are ruled out.
Collaborate with facility team members to create a nutritional care plan going forward in the form of holding monthly weight and wound meetings. Discuss signs of dysphagia, aspiration, or pocketing foods with the SLP and notify the attending physician and responsible party of any significant weight change.

With these procedures in place, undernourishment will be mitigated, skin integrity preserved, and cognitive, social, and physical function protected and enhanced.