Residents in the long term care setting often display weight loss associated with disease progression. Commercial liquid supplementation is most often the primary choice for nutritional intervention. This frequently interferes with meal intakes by decreasing the desire to eat traditional foods. In one long term care facility, unexpected weight loss averaged 10% over a six month period. Our purpose was to develop a Weight Wellness program that utilized a multidisciplinary approach to improve overall weight status by assessing the cause for weight loss and developing a resident specific nutritional intervention plan. The multidisciplinary team included the Registered Dietitian, Unit Nurse Managers, Certified Nursing Assistants, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Food Service Director. All residents with significant weight loss (as defined by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act guidelines) and those who showed a subtle persistent pattern of weight loss were reviewed monthly. Valuable information about food preferences and habits, feeding skills and chewing/swallowing abilities were provided for each resident addressed Careful review of this information was utilized to develop individualized meal plans that included finger foods, high calorie, high protein items and a snack program that replaced liquid supplements, featuring resident's favorite foods. Training the Nursing staff and involving them in the nutrition intervention process was crucial for the success of this program. Unexpected weight loss statistics were tracked for one year. Total unexpected weight loss was decreased from an average of 10% to an average of 4.6%.

In conclusion, implementing a Weight Wellness program within a long term care facility has been shown to decrease the incidence of overall weight loss through a multidisciplinary approach and involvement on an on-going basis.