Additional feeding assistance improves the energy and protein intakes of hospitalised elderly patients. A health services evaluation.

Malnutrition is a serious issue that is prevalent in elderly hospitalised patients. Traditionally the role of feeding was designated to the nurse; however competing tasks mean that additional support for feeding assistance is needed. A program that utilises volunteers during weekday lunchtimes to assist, feed and socialise with patients at a Sydney hospital began during 2005.

A volunteer feeding assistance program can improve dietary intakes of elderly patients--a pilot study.

Malnutrition is prevalent in elderly hospitalized patients and has been associated with longer lengths of stay (LOS), higher rates of complications and increased hospital costs. Feeding assistance has traditionally been the role of nurses, however with an ageing population and an ever-increasing workload there may not be sufficient time to ensure the nutritional care of all patients. A program in which trained volunteers assist, socialize and feed nutritionally vulnerable patients at lunch on weekdays has been initiated in a major suburban hospital in Sydney.