Malnutrition and dehydration, caused by a lack of proper nutrition and fluids, can lead to infections, confusion and muscle weakness. These symptoms can result in immobility, falls, pressure ulcers, pneumonia and a weak immune system. Nursing homes are required to provide well-balanced and palatable meals to residents that deliver adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals, proteins and calories. A simple lab test can confirm whether a nursing home resident is suffering from malnutrition or dehydration.
Nursing home residents with the following risk factors have an increased chance of suffering from malnutrition and dehydration:
- Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Drug side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or sleepiness
- Food and drug interactions that decrease the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals
- Major psychiatric disorders ort altered behavior, such as severe anxiety, confusion or not being able to stay awake
- Mouth problems such as ill-fitting dentures, mouth sores or mouth pain
- Repeated infection
- Stroke
- Swallowing disorders
- Tremors, which affect residents’ ability to feed themselves
- Use of diuretics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, laxatives or steroids
Malnutrition Side Effects
- Dull eyes
- Pale skin, lips or mouth
- Poor skin elasticity
- Resident appears confused or disoriented (not as a result of mental illness such as Alzheimer’s disease)
- Swollen arms and lower legs (edema)
- Swollen lips, gums and/or dry tongue, cracks around the mouth
- Thinning hair
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Wounds that take longer than usual to heal
Dehydration Side Effects
- Cold, clammy, hot or unusually dry skin
- Dry mouth and sticky saliva
- Eyes that do not tear
- Increased or extreme thirst
- Lightheadedness that is relieved by lying down
- Loss of consciousness
- Reduced urine output or urine that is dark yellow or brown
- Repeated infection
- Severe vomiting, diarrhea and/or fevers
- Stroke
- Weak, rapid pulse