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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1995

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Phyllis Gaspar

Keywords

nutrition of nursing home patients, nutrition requirements of nursing home patients

Abstract

The literature reports that residents of long term care facilites [sic] are at risk for impaired nutritional status. Studies also suggest an association between poor cognitive functioning and impaired nutritional status, however the literature lacks research related to the relationship of nutritional status with communication/hearing and vision patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine and describe the nutritional intake of intermediate care facility residents with differing cognitive, communication/hearing, and vision patterns.
Food and fluid intake data were recorded from a convenience/purposive sample consisting of 39 subjects(mean age 86.3 years). Cognitive, communication/hearing, and vision pattern data were obtained from the Minimum Data Set and analyzed for frequencies and measures of central tendencies and dispersion. Mean caloric intake was determined to be 1717 kcals with a range of 964 to 3009.5 kcals. The mean percent intake of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calories was 112%. Seventy percent of the subjects met the RDA for calories. The intake of twenty-seven other nutrients was also determined. The mean intake for eight nutrients (29%) was found to be below 100% of the RDA. These nutrients were: a) fiber, b) polyunsaturated fat, c) cholesterol, d)vitamin B6, e) pantothenic, f) copper, g) magnesium, and h) zinc.
Calories were chosen to represent nutritional intake based upon correlation between each nutrient. The sample was divided into a high and low nutritional intake group, based upon caloric intake at 100% of the RDA. Utilizing the high and low intake groups, the data were analyzed using Chi-square. Significant differences were found for the high and low intake groups in the areas of : a) long term memory, and b) memory/recall ability. The findings reflected that a greater proportion of those with impaired memory being in the high intake group. No significant differences were found between groups in communication/hearing or vision patterns.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Nursing home patients -- Nutrition
Nursing home patients -- Nutrition -- Requirements

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

71

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 1995 Vickie Britson. All rights reserved

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