Category: Dementia – Nutrition and Hydration

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are very common among older people, and previous studies showed that BPSD affects eating behaviour negatively, possibly resulting in undernutrition. In a previous study, we constructed a set of 11 items based on direct observations of older people with dementia during mealtime and named them ‘SSADE: signs and symptoms accompanying dementia while eating’.

We expected the SSADE to contribute to the prevention and improvement of undernutrition, through the development of a concrete strategy for nutritional care planning by professional teams including dietitians in long-term care facilities.

Click here to access the article. An OpenAthens login is required. Alternatively call 0161 291 5778 or email Academy Library for a copy of the article.

Nursing older people in acute settings involves the provision of complex care, including the maintenance of good hydration. Dehydration is a serious condition that may contribute to the development of pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, acute kidney injury and venous thromboembolism. If oral hydration methods are not successful, the alternatives are intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous fluid hydration therapy. These are invasive methods and may not be tolerated by all patients.

This article uses a case study to explore an innovative approach to oral hydration. The intervention was developed for Roy, a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, who had a reduced fluid intake and who became agitated when staff or family members attempted to assist him with nutrition and hydration. It involved consultation with Roy’s family and the introduction of a flavoured drink to encourage the patient to drink. His weekly fluid intake doubled as a result and the intervention avoided the use of alternative invasive rehydration therapy. Although this was a local initiative developed for one patient, it is an example of how a person – entred, collaborative approach can have a positive effect for patients.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

Objectives: This study examined the association between environmental stimulation and eating performance among nursing home residents with dementia. Conclusions: Environmental stimulation that is personally tailored to a resident’ needs and preferences and directly offered to a resident contributed to better eating performance among residents with dementia. The findings will direct future development and implementation of person-directed mealtime care programs and dining environment arrangements for residents with dementia in nursing homes.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

Malnutrition is common in care home residents, but information on the cost-effectiveness of nutritional interventions is lacking. This study, involving a randomised trial in care home residents, aimed to examine whether oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are cost-effective relative to dietary advice. Conclusion: This pragmatic randomised trial involving one of the oldest populations subjected to a cost-utility analysis, suggests that use of oral nutritional supplements in care homes are cost-effective relative to dietary advice.

Click here to access the article. An OpenAthens login is required. Alternatively call 0161 291 5778 or email Academy Library for a copy of the article.

The aim of the study was to investigate the outcome of change in body weight associated with use of a structured preventive care process among persons with dementia assessed as at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. The preventive care process is a pedagogical model used in the Senior Alert (SA) quality register, where nutrition is one of the prioritized areas and includes four steps: assessment, analysis of underlying causes, actions performed and outcome. Conclusion: Using all steps in the structured preventive care process seems to improve nutritional status of persons with dementia assessed as at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. This study contributes to the development of evidence-based practice regarding malnutrition and persons with dementia.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

Nurses have been urged to support an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the importance of proper nutrition for people with dementia.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

Author undertook small trial on an AMU Unit using coloured drinking glasses. The results indicated that coloured drinking glasses encourage fluid intake. This will assist in a reduction in instances of dehydration, which in turn may have an impact on reducing acute kidney injuries, urinary tract infections, falls, confusion and venous thromboembolisms. This small change has enhanced the care provided for our patients.

Click here to access the article. An OpenAthens login is required. Alternatively call 0161 291 5778 or email Academy Library for a copy of the article.

Dementia is a progressive, debilitating disease that often results in weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration. Feeding tubes are often prescribed; however, this practice can lead to complications. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the use of feeding tubes in elderly demented patients from a social ecological perspective. Results indicated that family members often receive inadequate decision-making education. Many health care professionals lack knowledge of evidence-based guidelines pertaining to feeding tube use. Organizational and financial reimbursement structures influence feeding tube use. Feeding practices for patients with advanced dementia is a complex issue, warranting approaches that target each level of the Social Ecological Model.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

This review highlights the role of nutrition science in promoting healthy aging and in improving the prognosis in cases of age-related diseases. It discusses management recommendations for several leading chronic conditions common in aging populations, including cognitive decline and dementia, sarcopenia, and compromised immunity to infectious disease. The role of health systems in incorporating nutrition care routinely for those aged ≥60 y and living independently and current actions to address nutritional status before hospitalization and the development of disease are discussed.

This article is not available from the Academy Library’s collection. If you would like us to request it from another library, please call 0161 291 5778 or email the UHSM Academy Library

Patients suffering from advanced dementia present ethicists and caregivers with a dif-ficult issue: we do not know how they feel or how they want to be treated, and they have no way of telling us. We do not know, therefore, whether we ought to prolong their lives by providing them with nutrition and hydration, or whether we should not provide them with food and water and let them die. Since providing food and water to patients is considered to be basic care that is morally required, it is usually only the provision of nutrition and hydration by artificial means that is considered to require ethical justification. Building on what I call a virtue-based conception of autonomy, I argue that, at least for some patients suffering from advanced dementia, even provi-ding food and liquid by hand is morally wrong.

Access the paper by clicking here.