Undernäring och ordination av energi- och proteinrik kost till äldre på särskilt boende

Sammanfattning: Background: Malnutrition occurs in almost one-fifth of the elderly in nursing homes. Malnutrition may contribute to problems such as impaired immune system, impaired healing, decreased lung and muscle function, as well as prolonged care in hospitals and increased mortality. Energy and protein dense dietary is prescribed to prevent and treat malnutrition. Objective: To investigate how many of the elderly in nursing homes were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and how many of them were prescribed energy and protein dense dietary. Method: The design of this study was retrospective descriptive, with quantitative approach. Data from completed Mini Nutritional Assessments and existing diet certificates were collected and reviewed using a review template. Results: According to the Mini Nutritional Assessments, 144 (70%) elderly were screened for malnutrition. Of these 14 (10%) were assessed to be malnourished and 66 (46%) were at risk of malnutrition. Energy and protein dense dietary was prescribed in 12 (86%) of those who were malnourished, while 21 (32%) elderly at risk of malnutrition were prescribed energy and protein dense dietary. The difference between the groups was significant (p= .000). Conclusion: A majority was screened with Mini Nutritional Assessment. Nutritional status showed a small proportion of malnourished, and the majority were at risk of malnutrition. Most of the malnourished were prescribed energy and protein dense dietary, while the recommendation to prescribe this diet at risk of malnutrition had low compliance.