Malnutrition and the older adult: care planning and management

Malnutrition is a major problem in the UK, which frequently goes unrecognized and untreated. It impacts on patients' quality of life, increases length of stay in hospital, and overall increases the risk of unsuccessful outcomes in treatment. Effective management of malnutrition and related conditions aims to correctly screen and identify the presence of malnutrition through the use of a validated nutrition screening tool and address underlying deficiencies through adapting food choices, food fortification or initiation of proprietary nutritional supplements. This article discusses the prevalence of malnutrition, the role of screening and practical steps towards improving nutritional management in older people.