An approach to nutrition screening for older Americans

The Nutrition Screening Initiative suggests an adaptable, tiered approach to screening for poor nutritional status in older Americans. The first level of screening is a checklist to be completed by elderly individuals or their caregivers. This checklist, which will be widely disseminated, describes the warning signs of poor nutritional status. It is anticipated that individuals will approach their physicians on the basis of scores on this checklist. Also included are two screening tests designed to help clinicians more easily detect poor nutritional status, or risk factors for poor nutrition, in their patients. The level I screen is to be completed by a social service or health care professional, or by other trained personnel. The level II screen focuses on additional information to be obtained following referral to a physician or other qualified health care professional.