Provide specialized nutrition support older adults should be started on specialized nutrition support if they cant shouldnt or wont eat adequately and if the benefits of improved nutrition outweigh the associated risks 1 see figure 2 page 46 among the risks of parenteral nutrition are catheter related infection hyperglycemia metabolic bone disease fluid and electrolyte disturbances and elevations in liver enzyme levels. The mini nutritional assessment mna guigoz et al 1994 has proved a valid and reliable clinical screening and assessment tool for older people and has been used frequently in nutritional research in this age group van nes et al 2001 used it to predict outcome of hospitalisation confirming that patients with a low mna have an increased rate of mortality or a longer hospital stay than those with a high score. Assessment and management of eating and feeding difficulties for older people a niche protocol amella ej1 author information 1college of nursing university of arizona tucson usa adequate nutritional intake is critical to preserving the health of older people when an elderly person requires assistance with eating the most social of all activities of daily living the assessment of . Eating and nutrition care for older adults nursing assessment and interventions on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers eating and nutrition care for older adults nursing assessment and interventions. As malnutrition is present in the older adult population nutritional assessment and screening tools can be useful to highlight those in need of a nutritional care plan however many have not been subjected to evaluation and consequently may not demonstrate sensitivity and or specificity in clinical use the decision to use a particular tool should therefore be considered carefully