Risk Factors of Isaia et al for Malnutrition in an Elderly Person With Cognitive Impairment Who Is Living at Home

 

Patient selection: elderly patient with dementia living at home with assistance of a caregiver

 

Risk factors for malnutrition:

(1) more severe dementia

(2) depression

(3) hallucinations or delusions

(4) behavioral disturbances

 

Additional factors that could impact the patient:

(1) poor economic status

(2) relative isolation (limited caregiver presence)

 

An elderly patient with cognitive impairment who is living in the community should be monitored more closely for malnutrition if these risk factors are present.