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Malnutrition

Proper nutrition is an integral part of health, independence, quality of life, and physical and mental functioning. However, nutritional deficiencies are common among U.S. nursing home residents, despite federal and state regulations designed to prevent their occurrence. Malnutrition is food deprivation that occurs when residents are not provided with adequate amounts of the vitamins, minerals, protein, and calories according to their nutritional needs. There are both physical and environmental causes that can lead to malnutrition in nursing homes.

Physical Causes:

• Illness
• Adverse side effects of medications, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cognitive disturbances, or sleepiness
• Food and drug interactions which decrease the ability of the body to absorb vitamins and minerals
• Depression
• Swallowing disorders
• Mouth problems such as tooth loss, dentures that do not fit properly, mouth sores, and mouth pain
• Tremors, which inhibit the residents' ability to feed themselves

Environmental Causes:

• Inadequate attention from staff for residents who need assistance eating
• Staff who are uneducated about residents' nutritional needs and proper ways to feed residents who need help
• Reliance on liquid supplements
• Special diets

Malnutrition can lead to infections, confusion, and muscle weakness resulting in immobility and falls, as well as pressure ulcers, pneumonia, and increased susceptibility to bacteria and viruses. If a senior is being properly cared for in a nursing home, malnutrition should not happen. Nursing homes have a responsibility to ensure that residents maintain good nutritional health by providing them with well-balanced meals and assistance in eating.