Nutrition in Older Adults

Food intake is a clinical vital sign in older adults. A declining appetite, missed meals, difficulty chewing, or new swallowing symptoms may precede infection, functional decline, falls, pressure injury, or hospitalization. Aging alone does not cause malnutrition, but reduced taste and smell, dry mouth, dental problems, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, depression, medication effects, limited mobility, and difficulty obtaining or preparing food can gradually reduce intake. The LVN/LPN assesses trends rather than a single meal: recent weight change, percentage of meals consumed, hydration, oral health, swallowing, bowel and gastrointestinal symptoms, medication effects, functional ability, mood, cognition, and access to food. The practical nurse implements the established plan, assists with safe eating and drinking, reinforces teaching, documents response, and promptly escalates findings that require evaluation by the supervising registered nurse, provider, dietitian, or speech-language pathologist.