Nutritional assessment of residents in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFS): Recommendations of the task force on nutrition and ageing of the IAGG European Region and the IANA

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 475 - 483
• Main Authors: Salva, A., Coll-Planas, L., Bruce, S., De Groot, L., Andrieu, S., Abellan, G., Vellas, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01-06-2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Homes for the Aged; Humans; JNHA: Nutrition; Long-Term Care; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosciences; Nursing Homes; Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Primary Care Medicine; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - diagnosis; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - etiology; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - therapy; Quality of Life Research; Risk Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight Loss; Europe; Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment; Nutr Health Aging; Pressure Ulcer; Mini Nutritional Assessment; Nursing Home Resident; Human; Nutrition; Force; Ageing; Resident (student); Metabolic diseases; Resident; European; Recommendation; Long term care; Feeding
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-009-0097-7

Unintentional weight loss and Undernutrition are major problems among older people living in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF). Undernutrition manifests in LTCF particularly as weight loss and low Body Mass Index (BMI) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as with functional decline. There are many factors associated with poor nutritional status and affecting protein-energy intake and/or energy expenditure. These include age of 85 years or older, low nutrient intake, loss of ability to eat independently, swallowing and chewing difficulties, becoming bed-ridden, pressure ulcers, history of hip fracture, dementia, depressive symptoms and suffering from two or more chronic illnesses. Nutritional evaluation is an essential part of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). This evaluation ranges from methods such as BMI to several validated tools such as Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). After diagnosis, the management of undernutrition in LTCF requires a multidisciplinary approach which may involve dietary and environmental improvements and managing multiple co-morbidities, while avoiding polypharmacy as far as possible. Finally, the need for supplementation or artificial (tube) feeding may be considered taking into account the CGA and individual needs. This document presents a succinct review and recommendations of evaluation and treatment of undernutrition.