Malnutrition Week at Montefiore

Malnutrition Week takes place from the 8th – 12th September and is an opportunity to highlight the importance of good nutrition for healthy ageing. Malnutrition can impact every part of our overall health, which is why it’s such a core focus for Montefiore’s dieticians. Let’s raise awareness and improve nutrition for all!

What is malnutrition?

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) defines malnutrition as:

‘A state resulting from lack of intake or uptake of nutrition that leads to altered body composition and body cells mass leading to diminished physical and mental function and impaired clinician outcome from disease.’

Malnutrition isn’t always easy to recognise – it can affect anyone, at any age, in any setting. However, older people in aged care facilities can be particularly impacted, which is why it’s so important to focus on resident health and wellbeing at all times.

Causes of malnutrition include:

• Reduced dietary intake
• Increased nutritional requirements e.g. wound, reduced ability to synthesis protein
• Reduced absorption e.g. ageing of the gut
• Cognitive impairment
• Dysphagia
• Sensory impairment
• Disease specific inflammatory response
• Polypharmacy
• Depression
• Cachexia

Credit: Dietitian Connection

How can a Dietician help manage nutrition?

• Providing a malnutrition screening and assessment
• Providing nutrition support
• Communicating with the Catering team
• Liaising with a resident’s GP and other providers
• Working with a Speech Pathologist to improve swallowing and mealtime enjoyment
• Calculating energy and protein needs
• Advocating for resistance exercise

What are the impacts of malnutrition?

• Malnutrition affects the function and recovery of all organs
• Muscle function, which can lead to increased falls and decrease mobility
• Cardio-respiratory function
• Gastrointestinal function
• Increased risk of infection and complications
• Delayed wound healing
• Decreased quality of life
• Increased risk of a hospital stay

Credit: Dietitian Connection

How do Montefiore’s Dieticians and other teams work together to help prevent and manage malnutrition?

• Helping residents with their meals by unpackaging their food, assisting with feeding and meal set up
• When residents are not feeling hungry, prioritising meat, dessert and nutrition supplements
• Offering mid-meals to all and encouraging eating smaller more frequent meals throughout the day
• Helping residents make menu choices by reading the menu to residents and explaining what the food components on the plate are
• Not removing a meal tray without checking if a resident has finished
• Offer residents second serves
• Offer residents an alternative meal if they do not want the menu items
• Encouraging residents to attend daily group exercise classes