Improving nutritional status among persons with dementia by performing individualized interventions

• Poor nutritional status is common among persons with dementia and negatively associated with subjective health, mobility and mortality. When malnutrition occurs it is challenging to improve the nutritional status. The aim of the study was to investigate if a structured preventive care process could increase body weight, among persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. The structured preventive care process includes four steps which have been registered in a national quality register: 1) Risk assessment by Mini nutritional assessment-Short Form. 2) Team-based analysis of underlying causes (19 evidence-based risk factors) performed by staff including professionals like nurses, nurse assistants, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. 3)  Planning and performing interventions based on the need and problems of the individual (28 evidence-based actions) and 4) evaluation of performed interventions (body weight). A prepost design was used with body weight measured during baseline (0) and follow-up (7–106 days later). In total 526 persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition 176 The Gerontological Society of America Copyedited by: OUP at :: on January 10, 2017 http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from or malnourished, 65 years and older and with a care contact, were included. Results: 109 persons was registered in all four steps i.e. a team-based analysis of underlying causes have been performed. An improvement in the nutritional status was observed in these individuals (baseline Md 60.0 kg; follow-up Md 62.0  kg; p-value 0.013). No improvement was detected among those missing an analysis of underlying causes. Accordingly, by planning care in a structured way and give individualized interventions based on underlying causes can help improve nutritional status among persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition or malnourished.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

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