The Connection Between Malnutrition, Dehydration, and Falling

Many nursing home (NH) residents do not eat and drink enough. Subsequently, undernutrition (malnutrition and dehydration) is an extremely common condition, affecting up to at least one-half of residents. Both malnutrition and dehydration are associated with a host of complications, several of which can cause falls and harm, as well, as being predictors for future falls. Yet, under-nutrition has received little attention in NH fall prevention programs.  As a result, NH staff may be missing potential preventive factors in their efforts to prevent falls. Similarly, including undernutrition in a facility’s fall prevention efforts may have a comparable effect, detecting cases early and improving the resident’s fluid and dietary status. The purpose of this course is to increase nurses’ awareness of malnutrition and dehydration as risk factors for falls, the role both play in the causation of falls, and how interventions aimed at improving the resident’s dietary and fluid status can simultaneously help avoid falls and injuries.

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