Page 385 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

352 n NuTRITION IN THe eLDeRLy

community-dwelling older adults (Walker and mealtime difficulties (Aselage & Amella,
et al., 2009), and in residential care (Gaskill, 2010) in older adults with dementia.
N Isenring, Black, Hassall, & Bauer, 2009). A Nurse researchers are well positioned
body of work focuses on structure and pro- to develop the science of geriatric nutri-
cess issues related to mealtimes in hospitals tion. Future research should incorporate
(Bryon, de Casterle, Gastmans, Steeman, & a biobehavioral approach with the inclu-
Milisen, 2008; Dickinson, Welch, & Ager, sion of inflammatory biomarkers, based on
2008; Xia & McCutcheon, 2006), feeding dif- the new subtypes of adult-disease-related
ficulties between nursing assistants and malnutrition. Although it is important to
elderly residents with dementia (Chang & continue to describe the nutritional status
Roberts, 2008), and food and meal policies in of various cohorts of older adults in acute
nursing home residents (Kuosma, Hjerrild, care, long-term care, and in the community,
Pedersen, & Hundrup, 2008). In one study, it is imperative to link the various levels
nurses were interviewed to determine ways of nutritional status to health outcomes.
to promote nutrition assessment in older Targeted interdisciplinary interventions
adults by nurses (Soderhamn & Soderhamn, to improve nutrition and health outcomes
2009). Also, nurse researchers explored the need to be developed and tested. Finally,
impact of the culture of nursing homes on greater strides must be made to translate
the use of tube feeding in advanced dementia the evidence on nutrition in older adults to
(Lopez, Amella, Strumpf, Teno, & Mitchell, the bedside.
2010). Finally, nurses are exploring the eating
behaviors (Amella, Grant, & Mulloy, 2008) Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili