NUTRITION ASSESSMENT PRACTICAL APPROACHES

Because the signs of malnutrition are often mistaken for the signs of aging, the geriatrician should develop a heightened awareness of the m ultiple factors that affect nutrition status and a systematic approach to nutrition screening and assessment of the elderly. Nutrition scree ning and assessment provides a cost effective avenue for health promot ion and disease prevention in the growing number of elderly in the Uni ted States. The screening and assessment methods not only examine spec ific nutrient intake but also incorporate other factors that, in the e lderly, greatly influence nutritional health such as psychosocial, fun ctional, mental, financial, and physical health status. Examples for r eady implementation and adaptation are presented.