Meal rounds: An essential aspect of quality nutrition services in long-term care

Introduction and Rationale: Weight change and, specifically, weight loss are common in residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The occurrence of weight change results from multifactorial processes, some of which can be considered nutrition risk factors. Meal rounds can be a continuous quality improvement activity to readily identify nutrition risk factors that can influence weight change. Methods: This brief report will describe the activity of meal rounds and how they can be used to improve nutrition services. Baseline data from a previously published study on 37 residents will provide proportions of nutrition risk factors identified during meal rounds that can influence weight change. Outcomes: Feeding and eating difficulties are prevalent in residents with dementia (eg, agitation 29.7%, resisting assistance 21.6%). Early identification of these difficulties using meal rounds may be a means of preventing weight change and promoting quality nutrition care in LTCFs. The proposed intervention of meal rounds conducted as described can improve the quality of nutrition services in LTCFs.