Page 72 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 72
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 72 performed on 1107 residents. 46.6 % residents had normal nutritional status,
39.9 % were at risk of malnutrition, and 13.5 % were malnourished. Nutrition-
al treatment can help individuals but the overall result is not likely to change
by much due to new admissions, hospitalizations, diseases etc. We evaluate
that nutritional support has influence on quality of life, muscle mass if com-
bined with strength training, better wound healing, but new studies are need-
ed to asses these correlations. The multidisciplinary team, consisting of nurs-
ing staff, physiotherapists, doctors and clinical dietitians, report the positive
influence of nutritional treatment on muscle mass, physical ability and over-
all health. In future we expect some changes in prevalence of malnutrition,
but due to the high morbidity of this age group, we plan to evaluate individu-
al changes more closely than the prevalence. Our future plans are presented in
the third column of Table 1.
The results of our study are comparable with other studies, especially
those using MNA. Most of our residents come from hospitals, are critically
ill and are 85 years old or more, and are already malnourished at admission.
Residents previously living at home usually have better nutritional status than
those who were hospitalized or lived in other nursing homes.
Conclusions
The use of nutritional screening is rising but predominantly in the hospital
environment, where malnutrition is most common. Nursing homes also have
high prevalence of malnutrition, the treatment of which is often neglected due
to current health policies that do not include dietitians and other nutrition spe-
cialists in the nursing home employment scheme. More studies on the subject
might provide statistical elements that will help develop new guidelines and
protocols on a national level.
We implement nutritional treatment for every new resident, as early rec-
ognition of malnutrition and appropriate measures significantly affect qual-
ity of life. We are learning new approaches to nutritional treatment and are
expanding the range of measures that will provide healthy life for residents.
Nutritional support seems to have a good influence on quality of life and should
be performed in all nursing homes.
References
ABOLGHASEM GORJI, H., ALIKHANI, M., MOHSENI, M., MORADI –
JOO, M., ZIAIIFAR, H. and MOOSAVI, A., 2017. The Prevalence of Mal-
nutrition in Iranian Elderly: A Review Article. [online] Iran J Public
Health. [viewed 3 June 2018]. Avalible from: http://ijph.tums.ac.ir
AUKNER, C., DAHL EIDE, H. and IVERSEN, P.O., 2013. Nutritional status
among older residents with dementia in open versus special care units in
municipal nursing homes: an observational study. [online] BMC Geri-
39.9 % were at risk of malnutrition, and 13.5 % were malnourished. Nutrition-
al treatment can help individuals but the overall result is not likely to change
by much due to new admissions, hospitalizations, diseases etc. We evaluate
that nutritional support has influence on quality of life, muscle mass if com-
bined with strength training, better wound healing, but new studies are need-
ed to asses these correlations. The multidisciplinary team, consisting of nurs-
ing staff, physiotherapists, doctors and clinical dietitians, report the positive
influence of nutritional treatment on muscle mass, physical ability and over-
all health. In future we expect some changes in prevalence of malnutrition,
but due to the high morbidity of this age group, we plan to evaluate individu-
al changes more closely than the prevalence. Our future plans are presented in
the third column of Table 1.
The results of our study are comparable with other studies, especially
those using MNA. Most of our residents come from hospitals, are critically
ill and are 85 years old or more, and are already malnourished at admission.
Residents previously living at home usually have better nutritional status than
those who were hospitalized or lived in other nursing homes.
Conclusions
The use of nutritional screening is rising but predominantly in the hospital
environment, where malnutrition is most common. Nursing homes also have
high prevalence of malnutrition, the treatment of which is often neglected due
to current health policies that do not include dietitians and other nutrition spe-
cialists in the nursing home employment scheme. More studies on the subject
might provide statistical elements that will help develop new guidelines and
protocols on a national level.
We implement nutritional treatment for every new resident, as early rec-
ognition of malnutrition and appropriate measures significantly affect qual-
ity of life. We are learning new approaches to nutritional treatment and are
expanding the range of measures that will provide healthy life for residents.
Nutritional support seems to have a good influence on quality of life and should
be performed in all nursing homes.
References
ABOLGHASEM GORJI, H., ALIKHANI, M., MOHSENI, M., MORADI –
JOO, M., ZIAIIFAR, H. and MOOSAVI, A., 2017. The Prevalence of Mal-
nutrition in Iranian Elderly: A Review Article. [online] Iran J Public
Health. [viewed 3 June 2018]. Avalible from: http://ijph.tums.ac.ir
AUKNER, C., DAHL EIDE, H. and IVERSEN, P.O., 2013. Nutritional status
among older residents with dementia in open versus special care units in
municipal nursing homes: an observational study. [online] BMC Geri-
