Nutrition and Dementia: Implications for Dietitians in Long-term Care
Nutrition and Dementia: Implications for Dietitians in Long-term Care is organized by Dietitian Central.
Live Event Date: May 18, 2023
Expiration Date: May 31, 2024
Description
The number of elders living in care with dementia continues to rise. Residents living with dementia in long-term care facilities cope better with consistency, familiarity of faces, special activities/outings, and routine. Non-verbal cues, social interactions with family/friends as well as caregivers who residents recognize are important aspects for quality of life for people living with dementia. Over the past few years, from shortages and turnover of care staff to public health regulations regarding masking faces, periodic isolations, social distancing, and restricting family members from visiting or assisting with feedings have greatly impacted residents living with dementia.
Malnutrition related to dependence on others for meal support, socialization in the dining room, appetite, intake changes, and unintentional weight loss have contributed to the acceleration in the decline of residents' overall health.
This post-covid webinar will focus on the RDs' unique role in long-term care to help support the nutritional status of elders with dementia. This webinar will also discuss topics relating to communicating with families and the care staff.
Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:
- Identify types of the more commonly seen dementia diseases in long-term care facilities.
- Identify the impact of dementia with regards to behavior changes and nutritional status; how nutritional status can affect the trajectory of dementia disease.
- Understand some of the unique nutritional challenges and ramifications that affect residents' health and well-being and care staff since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Demonstrate methods to help caregivers and staff in a care facility to support residents with dementia to improve their quality of life.