Weight Loss Prevention :: This Module :: Learning Objectives :: Introduction (4/8) :: Step 1 :: Step 2 :: Step 3 :: Step 4 :: Forms :: Nutrition Slide Show :: FAQs :: Related Studies :: Links :: Discussion Board :: CEU Test

MEALTIME INTERVENTION HELPS HALF OF AT-RISK RESIDENTS Clearly these findings point to a serious problem with the adequacy and quality of feeding assistance in nursing homes. If you're now thinking, as we did, that the obvious solution is to assign more workers to help at mealtimes, then think again. We tried that in three nursing homes: Assigned our own highly trained staff to provide one-on-one feeding assistance over six consecutive meals to each of 74 residents who were consistently under-eating (14). Working within the context of a standardized protocol, we coaxed, cajoled, and conversed with each resident for about 40 minutes per meal, doing everything we could think of to get the person to eat more. About half did eat more, significantly more, increasing their intake by 30% on average. The other half did not increase their consumption. For a subsample of these residents, we provided an additional two days of individualized feeding assistance-to no avail. Despite our best efforts, they still ate less than half of the food on their plates. (prev | next)

&copy 2008  www.geronet.ucla.edu  All rights reserved.