لخّصلي

We have seen that there several reasons why an older person may have an impaired appetite and these can be related to the physical and psychological changes that accompany ageing.Finally oral nutritional supplements may need to be used to support patients who are acutely ill and have very poor appetite.The nurse is well placed to identify those patients with poor appetite, identify and treat any underlying cause and use various strategies to help older people to improve their appetite and the adequacy of their diet.

We have seen that there several reasons why an older person may have an impaired appetite and these can be related to the physical and psychological changes that accompany ageing. Poor appetite is important because it increases risk of nutritional deficiencies and weight loss, with weight loss being particularly difficult to reverse. These are both associated with worse health outcomes for patients and also an increased risk of dying. The nurse is well placed to identify those patients with poor appetite, identify and treat any underlying cause and use various strategies to help older people to improve their appetite and the adequacy of their diet. These include enhancing the flavour of food with herbs, spices and sauces, by improving mealtime ambience, serving smaller portions of enriched foods, finding ways to help the person have company at mealtimes, serving ‘beverage’ meals and serving foods the patient is known to like at the times they usually eat. Encouraging an increase in levels of physical activity when appropriate might also help. Finally oral nutritional supplements may need to be used to support patients who are acutely ill and have very poor appetite.