Page 70 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 68 present. Nutritional support should be offered to patients with a multidiscipli-
nary approach, when a multidisciplinary approach is not available it is neces-
sary to provide nutritional support with the interdisciplinary team. Nutritional
support includes a set of activities which depends what kind of medical prob-
lems a patient has. Nutritional support can be provided by different health pro-
files (nurse, dietitian, physician, pharmacist) (Ukleja et al., 2010). In the Unit-
ed States, special education in nursing care began in the early 20th century. In
European countries with special knowling about dietetics by nurses is not de-
veloped like in the United States (Boeykens and Hecke, 2018).
In nursing homes in Denmark, a team of multidisciplinary nutritional
support has been developed to treat malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition,
which includes physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists. It has
been found to have positive effects on quality of life, muscle strength, and oral
care in the elderly (Beck et al., 2016). A positive link between the introduction
of multidisciplinary nutrition support teams and the quality of life of the el-
derly was also confirmed by Rasmussen and colleagues (2018). They also found
lower mortality among residents of nursing homes who were under the con-
trol of the said teams. Seemer et al. (2020) found that multidisciplinary teams
that provide nutritional support in nursing homes are effective. Namely, the
study successfully introduced a series of interventions (eating pattern, nutri-
tional supplements, improved food structure) to improve the nutritional status
of malnourished elderly and those with risk factors for malnutrition.
Mobile diabetes clinics provide high-quality patient care and are also
economically accessible to countries with limited resources. The mobile team
could be funded jointly by network hospitals, or be funded by a single institu-
tion and provide services to everyone else in the network for agreed fees. These
fees should cover at least the costs and, if possible, provide revenue. In return,
the mobile nutrition team should very clearly document the impact of its ser-
vices in terms of cost, results and quality of performed work. Their action to
promote the appropriate use of nutritional supportive therapy and with imple-
mentation of nutritional screening will have a positive impact on the costs of
care for patients who require nutritional support. Managed care payers will al-
so be interested in the impact of the mobile nutrition team on hospitals, as well
as the experience gained at home (Orr, 1995).
Conclusions
Every person has their own nutritional needs. In the elderly, nutritional needs
vary even more due to more associated diseases and poorer physical perfor-
mance. In social care institutions, it is essential to introduce regular nutritional
screening, which will serve as a basis for the design of protective and therapeu-
tic diets of the elderly. Part of the health team will also have to become a dieti-
tian who will take the lead in planning and achieving nutrition support goals.
Due to the constant presence of the patient, the nurse plays an important role
in detecting eating problems and acting quickly with the help of a multidisci-
nary approach, when a multidisciplinary approach is not available it is neces-
sary to provide nutritional support with the interdisciplinary team. Nutritional
support includes a set of activities which depends what kind of medical prob-
lems a patient has. Nutritional support can be provided by different health pro-
files (nurse, dietitian, physician, pharmacist) (Ukleja et al., 2010). In the Unit-
ed States, special education in nursing care began in the early 20th century. In
European countries with special knowling about dietetics by nurses is not de-
veloped like in the United States (Boeykens and Hecke, 2018).
In nursing homes in Denmark, a team of multidisciplinary nutritional
support has been developed to treat malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition,
which includes physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists. It has
been found to have positive effects on quality of life, muscle strength, and oral
care in the elderly (Beck et al., 2016). A positive link between the introduction
of multidisciplinary nutrition support teams and the quality of life of the el-
derly was also confirmed by Rasmussen and colleagues (2018). They also found
lower mortality among residents of nursing homes who were under the con-
trol of the said teams. Seemer et al. (2020) found that multidisciplinary teams
that provide nutritional support in nursing homes are effective. Namely, the
study successfully introduced a series of interventions (eating pattern, nutri-
tional supplements, improved food structure) to improve the nutritional status
of malnourished elderly and those with risk factors for malnutrition.
Mobile diabetes clinics provide high-quality patient care and are also
economically accessible to countries with limited resources. The mobile team
could be funded jointly by network hospitals, or be funded by a single institu-
tion and provide services to everyone else in the network for agreed fees. These
fees should cover at least the costs and, if possible, provide revenue. In return,
the mobile nutrition team should very clearly document the impact of its ser-
vices in terms of cost, results and quality of performed work. Their action to
promote the appropriate use of nutritional supportive therapy and with imple-
mentation of nutritional screening will have a positive impact on the costs of
care for patients who require nutritional support. Managed care payers will al-
so be interested in the impact of the mobile nutrition team on hospitals, as well
as the experience gained at home (Orr, 1995).
Conclusions
Every person has their own nutritional needs. In the elderly, nutritional needs
vary even more due to more associated diseases and poorer physical perfor-
mance. In social care institutions, it is essential to introduce regular nutritional
screening, which will serve as a basis for the design of protective and therapeu-
tic diets of the elderly. Part of the health team will also have to become a dieti-
tian who will take the lead in planning and achieving nutrition support goals.
Due to the constant presence of the patient, the nurse plays an important role
in detecting eating problems and acting quickly with the help of a multidisci-
