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Learn MoreHunger in our communities is often a tough problem to see, let alone combat. Unbeknownst to us, our neighbors may not have the resources to buy food. Others live in a food desert, where there are few if any grocery stores or venues where nutritional food can be purchased. Exacerbating the problem, there’s also an unwillingness to self-report on food insecurity, as people may not want their situation known. Those are just a few reasons why Malnutrition Awareness Week, coming up Sept. 23-27, is such a good time for providers to assess how they can help improve patient outcomes around diet and eating.
It’s a bigger problem than we might think. Here’s a snapshot from WhyHunger:
Often, and understandably, the focus of hunger relief and malnutrition-abatement efforts is on children. For adults, however, the issue can be equally severe. Food insecurity can lead to illness and the development of chronic diseases, as well as contribute to or exacerbate mental health issues, such as depression.
Food insecurity creates negative outcomes for seniors
Further, the effects of malnutrition on seniors is also extreme. They can experience rapid health declines, as well as cognitive function impairment and accelerated chronic disease development. Providers can do their part to identify malnutrition in seniors. A sudden weight loss, for instance, is a red flag. Asking if the patient is eating and what they are eating can be informative questions around this issue, and are not overly intrusive. It could be that a new medication is affecting the patient’s appetite, for instance, and so the issue can be addressed by looking at possible substitutes. There could also be other environmental concerns, such as a new residence, loss of a spouse or partner, or other sudden change to the home setting that is affecting diet and eating habits.
One way to assess a senior is by using the FRAIL acronym, say Dr. Eleanor McConnell, director of the Duke Centers for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Education, and Dr. Mitchell Heflin, associate professor of medicine at the Duke School of Medicine and senior fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, who recently spoke to HealthStream about the issue. FRAIL means:
Making these evaluations in the physician’s office, or early in a hospitalization, can help address current situations as well as reduce future risk. It also allows for better release planning and lowering that risk during transition also helps reduce adverse outcomes and readmissions.
“Frailty, in combination with other risk factors, increases an older patient’s vulnerability to a difficult transition of care and re-hospitalization,” McConnell says. “Older patients are more vulnerable during transitions of care because they may have poor health literacy, decreased social support, functional impairment, and or medical problems, such as coexisting chronic medical problems.”
“Over 80% of older adults in the acute care setting are malnourished. Poor nutrition can be caused by social isolation, depression or cognitive impairment.,” Heflin adds. “For adults living at home, poor nutrition may result from a reduced appetite or a lack of transportation that limits access to healthy foods. Financial constraints can also be a factor.”
Providers can do much to combat the issue of food insecurity and malnutrition in older adults. In addition to the FRAIL assessment, they may also be able to connect the patient and their family to community resources for food or meal delivery. Whatever the case, now is a good time to take a look at whether or not diet and nutrition are a part of ongoing care assessment for patients, as well as learning what outside resources are available so that helpful referrals can be made.
HealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsThe leadership development program from HealthStream helps mold your high-potential healthcare employees into proven leaders.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
View All Quality & ComplianceFulfill compliance requirements with a variety of programs and courseware designed to address critical regulatory requirements as well as educate staff to recognize and mitigate risks.
View All ProductsBy increasing your healthcare staff's focus on quality and safety with HealthStream, they can help to reduce medical errors and readmission rates.
View All ProductsLearn about what HealthStream's healthcare policy management software and how it can help aid your organization efforts.
View All ProductsHealthStream's education helps address diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization, as well as promoting health equity in the communities you serve.
View All ProductsHealthStream offers professional training and education on how to best optimize your reimbursement process within your healthcare organization.
View All ReimbursementTeach your healthcare staff about the revenue cycle and claim management through targeted training and video tools from HealthStream.
View All ProductsLearn about our advanced resuscitation training solutions. Our solutions are designed to help improve patient outcomes.
View All ResuscitationIn all areas of resuscitation, from neonatal to elderly care, clinical deterioration is a risk that can be avoided with the help of HealthStream's training programs.
View All ProductsHealthStream's EMS Program offers a comprehensive, CAPCE accredited EMS course library that meets National Registry annual recertification.
View All ProductsNurture the skills of your nurses and medical staff to help mold them into effective leaders with development training from HealthStream.
View All ProductsExpand the decision-making skills and effectiveness of your healthcare workforce with HealthStream's clinical development programs and services.
View All Clinical DevelopmentMake sure your clinicians have the support they need to provide competent care with clinical competency training and development from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All ProductsThe suite of healthcare onboarding solutions available from HealthStream aids in nurse retention and improved patient outcomes.
View All ProductsGive your healthcare staff the decision support and skills training they need with the online products available from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream leverages medical professional development in healthcare by providing staff training programs
View All ProductsLearn more about HealthStream's Provider Credentialing, privileging, & enrollment solutions.
View All CredentialingExperience standardized and centralized healthcare credentialing, privileging, and enrollment that is smarter and faster than ever before.
View All ProductsAutomated, web-based provider credentialing and enrollment software for growing medical groups.
View All ProductsNCQA-certified CVO verification services for initial and re-credentialing files in an overflow or full-service capacity for healthcare organizations.
View All ProductsSearch, review, and add providers into the Epic provider master file with our Epic app integration, Provider Validate.
View All ProductsMake sure your healthcare staff can schedule out appointments and work schedules with ease using HealthStream's line of software solutions.
View All SchedulingHealthcare scheduling software designed to optimize staffing requirements & elevate patient care
View All ProductsPrecisely align staffing and needed resources to enable efficient patient flow and high-quality, cost-effective patient care.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s free nurse schedule app, NurseGrid™, is built to help you care for your staff and engage with their specific needs.
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