title: Causes, assessment and treatment of malnutrition in older people.
abstract: Malnutrition is a growing problem in the UK with as many as 14% of people aged over 65 at risk. It is of particular concern in care homes where more than one third of residents are undernourished. Weight loss is not the only symptom of malnourishment and nurses should examine any changes to a person's health and well-being to identify causes. Regular monitoring of patients' risk of malnutrition through use of screening assessments, such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, ensures undernourishment is identified early. As the population ages, it is more important than ever that the implications of malnutrition are recognised and addressed.
authors.affiliation: United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Willis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: care homes; dysphagia; malnutrition; nutrition; nutritional screening; older people