Nutrition Education for Long-Term Care Staff: A Scoping Review to Support Older Adults' Nutritional Care

Older adults in long-term care (LTC) homes experience complex nutrition-related challenges and care staff are central to supporting nutrition care, eating assistance, and positive mealtime experiences. However, nutrition care education is often inconsistently addressed in staff training. This scoping review mapped the scope, characteristics, and reported the outcome measures of nutrition care education and programs for LTC staff. This review followed JBI methodology and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO) were searched from May to October 2024, with an updated search in September 2025. Grey literature and reference lists were also searched. Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Programs varied in content, delivery format, duration, target staff groups, implementation supports, and outcomes. Common outcomes included staff knowledge, confidence, attitudes, eating assistance practices, mealtime environment, feasibility indicators, and selected resident nutrition outcomes. Future research should improve reporting, follow-up, outcome definitions, implementation, feasibility, and continuity.