Rationale and key points

Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of nursing care, however older people cared for in hospital, in a care home or in their own home do not always receive adequate support with their nutritional needs, which can leave them at risk of malnutrition. Using a holistic, biopsychosocial framework to support a comprehensive nutritional assessment that includes malnutrition screening can support the nurse to identify the older person’s nutritional status and nutrition needs. Nurses undertaking this procedure must ensure they have the knowledge and skills to do so and work within the limits of their competence.

• Malnutrition in older people can lead to a decline in functional ability, reduced muscle strength, fatigue, impaired immunity, suboptimal wound healing, increased risk of infection and increased risk of falls.

• Screening for, and assessing the risk of, malnutrition is an important part of nursing assessments in any healthcare setting.

• A holistic nutritional assessment should incorporate physiological, psychological, emotional, spiritual, social and cultural elements.

Reflective activity

‘ How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:

• How this article might improve your practice when undertaking a holistic nutritional assessment with an older person.

• How you could use this information to educate nursing students or your colleagues on the appropriate techniques and evidence base for undertaking a holistic nutritional assessment with an older person.