Detection and correction of underweight problems in nursing home residents

Subnormal weight in the elderly is a well-known phenomenon; the ramifications may result in illness and death. There are many reasons for weight loss, usually related to changes that accompany aging or against a background of acute or chronic illness. Our goal in this study was to identify the underweight people living in our retirement facility at different functional levels and to plan and carry out nursing interventions in cooperation with the rest of the multidisciplinary team to increase their weight to within normal limits. Of the 205 residents who live in the home, 48 (23.4%) were found to be under the lower limit of ideal weight tables. With the aid of individual care plans and calorie-rich, low-volume diets, we succeeded in increasing the weight of 29 residents to within the normal range within 2 to 12 months. Seven residents died during the experimental period, and three continuing to lose weight. The rest of the residents remained stable at their original low weight.