Maintaining good nutritional status is key for preserving the health of a nursing home resident. When good nutrition is not maintained, the resident is at risk for developing bed sores, suffering infection, and having other adverse health events.A “significant weight loss” is a weight loss of:
- 5% in one month;
- 7.5% in 3 months; or
- 10% in 6 months.
Having a resident experience a significant weight loss is a “change in condition” which would require physician notification and changes in the care plan, assuming that the loss was unintended. There are times where a resident can experience a significant weight loss and have to be considered an intended weight loss, such as when they start taking a diuretic (i.e., a “water pill”) and are losing water weight. However, that is a medical determination and physician notification by the nursing home staff is still required.