ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF EATING AND FEEDING DIFFICULTIES FOR OLDER-PEOPLE - A NICHE PROTOCOL

Adequate nutritional intake is critical to preserving the health of ol der people. When an elderly person requires assistance with eating, th e most social of all activities of daily living, the assessment of nut ritional issues becomes multidimensional and interdisciplinary. Manage ment strategies should involve the professional nurse's attention to d ietary needs, as well as the social, cultural, and interactive compone nts of mealtime. Additionally, special strategies need to be developed for people with cognitive and physical disabilities.