Malnutrition/Eating Problems in Dementia Patients

Abstract

Using a systemic review, and a practical case study; the purpose of this study was to explore malnutrition in dementia patients. The nurse’s ability to recognize these patients and possible nursing interventions In our recent century, malnutrition has become a global problem. The promotion of health, and improvement of well-being requires a good propitious nutrition. Patients suffering from dementia are expected to progressively show a highly aggrandized level of eating difficulties as their medical condition (dementia) progresses. Without proper Nursing assessment and care, this could result to complete malnutrition. This study explores the qualities expected from a nurse (care giver) to improve the life of a malnourished dementia patient, how to identify dementia patients at risk of malnourishment and nursing interventions. Through a qualitative method, the writer utilized several scientific research papers and articles to obtain answers to the research questions. The literatures were obtained from CINAHHL, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Research Gate, Wiley Online Library, Nursing Library.org, and some books were collected from the University library. These articles were thoroughly reviewed on legal and ethical aspects for information selection. Only papers with abstracts and titles were utilized. The reference to the original authors and publication databases were also acknowledged. These papers were analyzed in the due order of searching, screening and critiquing for the purpose of answering research questions and providing a contribution to this topic and a broad overview of malnutrition in Patients with dementia. Orem’s theory of Universal Self Care was used as a focus point during analysis, literatures that did not satisfy the condition were eliminated. A clinical study was also performed, information was collected through a one and one interview, patient data was accessed and only permitted information were utilized, data that was replaced with xxx, were not permitted for use by patient’s will. Confidentiality of patients information was an important part during the data collection. Patients condition was analyzed, assessed and implementations (practical care) were based on theoretical and standards nursing process. After few weeks on this care plan, patient’s condition was evaluated and results were collected. Dementia patients go through a process of many functional declines, such as cognitive, physiological, etc. these conditions affect their abilities to attain and independently perform the Universal Self Care Needs described by Orem, and thus result in several clinical conditions like malnutrition or put them at high risk of it, regardless in the type of institution where they are being cared for. The results of this study ranged from the competence and skillfulness of nurses and nurse assistants to the patient’s level of functionality as dementia is a progressive disease, the level of dependency from one patient is always not the same with another. This study also found the importance of further learning and introduction of nutrition awareness programs for nurses and nurse assistants who are taking care of dementia patients. From the case study, the patient showed improved mobility, the patient also showed significant increase and improvement in the nutrition status, MNI and positive result from screening test, patient showed improved cognitive activity, at least patient was able to remember certain activities and communicate better with family and care giver, patient also showed improve knowledge and practice in hydration and hygiene. In general, these theoritical measures showed positive results in the clinical outcome of the patient after few weeks. This thesis proved that, on the process of creating a care plan for a dementia patient with malnutrition, it is important to identify the patient as an individual patient, it is important to display optimum ethical values during care as some dementia patients may become very aggressive or not comply with procedures. This study also showed that nursing assistants are not well informed about conditions of patients and the need to communicate more with attending nurses, in other to improve knowledge and general care given to the patient to observe and prevent malnutrition, is important. Lastly, this study also showed that with more awareness and nutrition programs available to both nurses and assistants, nursing skills and competence can improve.