3. what is malnutrition?

Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess (too high an intake) , or in the wrong proportions. A number of different nutrition disorders may arise, depending on which nutrients are under or overabundant in the diet. The World Health Organization cites malnutrition as the gravest single threat to the world's public health. Improving nutrition is widely regarded as the most effective form of aid.[3][4] Emergency measures include providing deficient micronutrients through fortified sachet powders, such as peanut butter, or directly through supplements. The famine relief model increasingly used by aid groups calls for giving cash or cash vouchers to the hungry to pay local farmers instead of buying food from donor countries, often required by law, as it wastes money on transport costs. Long term measures include investing in modern agriculture in places that lack them, such as fertilizers and irrigation, which largely eradicated hunger in the developed world. However, World Bank strictures restrict government subsidies for farmers and the spread of fertilizer use is hampered by some environmental groups. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malnutrition 4. how could malnutrition be prevented? What Can be Done to Prevent Malnutrition? With the growing awareness on the adverse effects of malnutrition, physicians and allied health personnel now have a better understanding of the importance of identifying patients at risk and introducing proactive measures before malnutrition sets in. Usually, in the early stages of a disease, there is a "window opportunity" to put in place appropriate corrective steps to prevent malnutrition before it becomes a more serious problem. Providing nutritional support to high-risk individuals helps to increase body weight and prolong life. It also improves immune functions and muscle bulk, resulting in better muscle function, strength and allows the individual to be independent in terms of mobility.

What is nutritional support? Nutritional support is providing essential nutrients to the body by special means other than through normal foods in the diet. Oral nutritional support is now commercially available. However, the formulations of different brands may vary in terms of nutrient content, taste, acceptability and cost. These products can be given as a meal supplement or as a meal replacement. http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com/health-fitness/preventing-malnutrition.php Tips to prevent malnutrition

Make sure your loved one in a nursing home drinks plenty of water. Eight glasses a day is recommended, unless there is a medical reason for restricting fluids. In addition to water, your loved one should drink plenty of juice. Insist on a pitcher of water and cups in the room. Make sure the resident can handle the pitcher and cups. If needed, insist on oversized cups with lids and built-in straws. Make sure your loved one eats three well-balanced meals per day. Insist on a daily weigh-in with accurate record keeping. Review weight records to monitor gain or loss. Make sure the resident's food tray hasn't been placed too far away so that it is difficult to reach.

http://www.edgarsnyder.com/nursing-home-abuse/abuse-type/malnutrition.html 7.what are the symptoms of malnutrition? legal evaluation of malnutrition claims Nursing home residents should not suffer unnecessarily from malnutrition which can be prevented with proper care. Potential signs and symptoms of malnutrition are:

Pale skin Dull eyes Swollen lips Swollen gums Swollen and/or dry tongue Poor skin turgor (when you pinch the skin, it stays indented and doesn't go back to normal quickly) Swelling in lower legs Weight loss

Muscle wasting

Risk factors for malnutrition are:

Poor teeth or poor oral hygiene Depression or dementia Difficulty swallowing Slow eating pace resulting in food getting cold or in the staff removing the tray before the resident has finished eating Cancer Stroke resulting in paralysis that renders the resident unable to feed themselves

We will evaluate the records to look for evidence that the resident was being provided proper nutrition. The first thing that should be done when a resident is admitted to the nursing home, is a nutrition assessment. An appropriate diet should be ordered, including any supplements such as snacks or ensure, if necessary. Persons at risk for malnutrition should be identified and a proper plan of care to assure that the resident receives sufficient nutrition should be implemented. The care plan should not only be implemented, it must be re-evaluated and changed when necessary based on changed in the residents food intake, weight, or laboratory values that may show evidence of malnutrition. We will assess whether the staff's concerns regarding signs and symptoms of malnutrition are clearly documented, along with consistent efforts to communicate concerns to the dietary department and to the physician. We will look for documentation that the nursing staff was fulfilling their responsibilities, if warranted, of assisting the resident with meals, documenting the amount of food the resident is eating at each meal and offering food substitutes based on patient preference. We will also look for documentation that the resident's nutritional status was being monitored by checking for:

Weight gain or weight loss Laboratory values - a simple blood test can be done to check the residents nutritional status. If some levels are below normal range, such as the protein or albumin level, it may be an indication of malnutrition.

In some cases, it may not be possible to provide adequate nutrition because the resident may be very sick and have some of the following medical conditions:

The resident may refuse to eat due to depression or other reasons The resident may have advanced cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation may cause severe nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite Advanced kidney disease Alcohol and drug abuse, chronic blood loss, hyperthyroidism Gastrointestinal surgery

If your loved one refuses to eat or is unable to eat due to a serious medical condition, talk with the physician and determine what alternatives are appropriate, such as supplements or tube feedings. http://www.edgarsnyder.com/nursing-home-abuse/abuse-type/malnutrition.html