People in long term care facilities are particularly vulnerable to shortfalls in nutrient intake. The only way for men and women with compromised self-feeding abilities to get all the nutrients they need from their diets is to pack more vitamins and minerals into less food. This is no small task. Several tools have been developed to help men and women, especially the elderly, to attain adequate nutrient status. These tools include observing the warning signs of poor nutritional status, and providing food of the type, texture, and amount that is best tolerated by individuals with certain medical conditions. This program provides updated information on basic nutrition screening and assisting patients to ensure that their nutrient needs are met.

After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:

• recognize the warning signs of poor nutritional health.
• describe factors associated with poor dietary intake.
• discuss therapeutic diet substitutions that may help ensure enhanced food intake.
• discuss instances in which food texture modifications may be needed.
• list alternative feeding techniques and tools.