This section contains detailed information about the nutritional management
of older persons. This site is linked to handouts educational programs
that will assist you in educating staff or family caregivers on proper
nutrition or hydration for persons with dementia.
| 1. | Nutrition is important for health and behavioral management. |
| 2. | Resident hunger produces behavioral problems. |
| 3. | Nutritional deficiencies produce health problems. |
| 4. | Inaccurate weights are common in long-term care facilities. |
| 5. | Swallowing apraxias or dyspraxias are a common cause of choking
and poor oral intake. |
| 6. | Residents with severe expressive aphasia frequently have silent
aspiration. |
| 7. | The average weight loss is 1-2 pounds per year regardless of caloric
intake in the middle or end stages of dementia. |
| 8. | Significant weight loss can result from delirium, depression, or
failure to feed the resident. |
| 9. | The resident who needs complete assistance with feeding requires
at least 20 minutes of staff time. |
| 10. | Wandering, agitation, and hostility may be produced by hunger. |
| 11. | Rigid blood sugar control in diabetic, demented residents is not
as important as steady caloric intake. |
| 12 | PEG tubes are not effective in end-stage dementia patients with
severe swallowing dysfunction. |
