Preventing Malnutrition in Long-term Care

Abstract

• This presentation explores the issue of malnutrition among residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities, discusses the importance of educating LTC leadership and staff about the far-reaching effects of this problem, and clarifies how occupational therapy can facilitate cultural and program changes in LTC facilities.
• Such changes have been shown to improve residents’ dining experiences, decrease risks of malnutrition and secondary health complications, increase staff morale and retention, and benefit the financial health of the organization.