NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

In this paper, the issues faced by the residents of nursing home. The nutritional issues are highlighted and some recommendations are given as well. We discuss the appropriate use of feeding tubes in the nursing home and the early use of enteral feeding to prevent the development of severe protein energy under nutrition. Hip fractures are often associated with vitamin D deficiency. Inadequate fluid intake leads to dehydration, hypotension, and, in persons with diabetes mellitus, hyperosmolarity. Finally, food intake itself can cause postprandial hypotension (which in turn may precipitate falls), produce electrolyte shifts, and result in aspiration pneumonia.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Problem Statement2

Background2

Research Methods3

Results3

Nutritional Issues4

Weight loss4

Depression5

Oral Intake Problems5

Tube Feeding9

Nutrition and Hip Fracture10

Fluid Intake and Dehydration10

Conclusion11

References13

Appendices15

Literature Review

Introduction

The residents of a nursing home face a lot of problems if proper care and treatment is not given to them. The most prevailing issue for the residents of nursing home is weight loss, poor oral intake and under nutrition. Even, though the weight loss causes can easily be treated, but they are usually not recognized in nursing homes. Drug overdose and depression are the most prevailing reasons of weight loss. In the residents of the nursing homes, undernutrition is possibly and significantly a variable problem of public health. The suitable management and recognition of the malnutrition of protein energy is still one of the main problems for the professional of health sector. There are several precautions which can be taken to ensure the nursing home residents have a healthy life. Different programs of physical activities are essential in the nursing home care which can have positive impact on the nutritional health of the residents. Cost effective and simple can be as helpful as the high technology programs.

Nursing home neglect and abuse is a national disgrace. In fact, this is a widespread - and growing - problem in the United States (Thomas et al, 1991). An analysis of death certificates of deceased persons in nursing homes in California between 1986 and 1993 revealed that more than 7%, or 1 in 15, deaths of elderly people in nursing homes has led to least in part, to the utter neglect, lack of food or water, untreated bedsores, and other diseases usually preventable. Since this study, the population of the nation nursing home has increased significantly. According to a survey published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 30% of respondents said they would rather die than live in a nursing home. The Nursing Home Reform Act requires that federal nursing home must provide “services and activities to attain or maintain the highest possible physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care (Thomas et al, 1991).” The nursing homes staff should perform their duties effectively and efficiency.

Problem Statement

There are several effects of different food choices and adequate feeding time in comparison to usual standard of care for poor oral intake on improved nutritional status and weight gain in the home nursing ...