Nutritional Care of Ambulatory Residents in Special Care Units for Alzheimer's Patients

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Abstract
The availability and an assessment of the nutritionally-relevant information from 100 medical records of ambulatory residents in ten special care units (SCU) for Alzheimer's patients was determined. Eight facilities had estimated calorie and fluid needs and four estimated protein needs of residents. Over 40% of the residents were underweight and significant weight loss was reported for 20%. Values for hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin and cholesterol were available on 61, 60, 36, and 25% of the patients, respectively. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and albumin were 8% lower and cholesterol was 24% higher than the levels associated with high death rates among institutionalized elderly. Many factors existed placing patients at high risk for malnutrition. Staff at all the facilities monitor the nutritional status of Alzheimer's patients to a variable extent.

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