Are informal carers and community care workers effective in managing malnutrition in the older adult community? A systematic review of current evidence

Skye Marshall, Judith Dorothea Bauer, Sandra Capra, Elisabeth Isenring

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting AbstractResearchpeer-review

54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Enhancing the effectiveness of the community and aged care workforce to prevent malnutrition and functional decline is important in reducing hospital and aged care facility demand. The aim of this systematic literature review was to investigate the impact of nutrition-related interventions delivered to informal carers and non-clinical community care workers on malnutrition-related health outcomes of community-dwelling older adults (65 years). Intervention studies were searched for, using six electronic databases for English-language publications from January 1980 to May 2012. Nine studies were eligible for inclusion. The strength and quality of the evidence was moderate (six studies with level II intervention evidence, five with positive quality). Types of interventions used were highly varied. The majority of interventions were delivered to informal carers (five studies), with three of these interventions also involving older adult care recipients. Five interventions were targeted at identifying, preventing and/or treating malnutrition specifically (two positive quality, three neutral quality, n=2368). As a result of these targeted interventions, nutritional status improved or stabilized (two positive quality, two neutral quality, n=2333). No study reported an improvement in functional status but two successfully prevented further decline in their participants (two neutral quality, n=1097). Interventions targeted at identifying, preventing and/or treating malnutrition were able to improve or prevent decline in nutritional and functional status, without increasing informal carer burden. The findings of this review support the involvement of non-clinical care workers and informal carers as part of the nutritional care team for community-dwelling older adults.
Original languageEnglish
Article number114
Pages (from-to)15
JournalNutrition and Dietetics
Volume70
Issue numberS1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventDietitians Association of Australia 30th National Conference - National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia
Duration: 23 May 201325 May 2013
Conference number: 30th

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Are informal carers and community care workers effective in managing malnutrition in the older adult community? A systematic review of current evidence'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this