The dietitian in community home programs

The dietitian is an important member of the health care team in the community and must be competent in the areas of administration, clinical nutrition, patient education, and human relations. Dietary follow-up care is essential in the community to evaluate existing facilities, assess economic levels, disseminate information to residents and sponsors, and ultimately provide good nutritional care to the patients. Responsibilities of the community care dietitian include participation in the initial evaluation of community homes under consideration for veteran placement and in determining the appropriateness of home placement for individual patients. Also, she/he makes follow-up visits to patients living in community residences.