ABSTRACT
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To gain information about the effects of implementation of a written food and meal policy and to evaluate to what extent systematic nutritional assessment and intervention would result in weight stability among the residents. BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that aged residents living in institutions suffer from malnutrition or are at risk of malnutrition. Health policies have pointed out that more attention should be given to individualised nutritional care. Several techniques are available to identify malnourished nursing home residents, but very few studies have reported findings of studies based on systematic nutritional assessment. DESIGN AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental study based on a time series design used the residents as their own controls. The study included all 20 residents who resided at the nursing home at baseline in September 2004. Five residents died during the study period (mean age 84.4 years, range 62-91 years). Altogether 15 residents (75%) were assessed all five times during the study period. RESULTS: The proportion of weight-stable residents increased significantly over the study from 52.6% (CI 99%: 23.1-80.2) at baseline to 87.7% (p < 0.01) at the end of the study. The proportion of weight losers significantly decreased from 42% (CI 99%: 23.1-80.8) to 13.3% (p < 0.01). The weight ranges indicate substantial weight changes, but over time the weight ranges became narrower, indicating a tendency towards weight stability. CONCLUSIONS: Although the nursing home had a formulated food and meal policy, this study shows the importance of a regular nutritional assessment combined with an individualised care planning. Relevance to clinical practice. Regular weighing combined with individualised care planning results in weight stability in nursing home residents. Individualised approach for nutritional care led by a qualified nurse is just as important in nursing homes as it is in hospitals.
