Managing Adult Malnutrition

Including a pathway for the appropriate use of
oral nutritional supplements (ONS)


Related Health Conditions

A number of resources are available that have been specifically developed to assist healthcare professionals working with patients who have malnutrition as a result of a specific condition. These include:

  • CANCER

    This resource outlines the impact of malnutrition in cancer, advises on nutrition screening and assessment and gives advice for both healthcare professionals and patients on ways to adjust the diet to prevent or manage common nutrition impact symptoms. It also includes information on diet in the prehabilitation phase prior to treatment, top line information on nutrition support and diet therapy, the use of oral nutritional supplements when indicated, and a summarised step by step guide.

    leaflets to help cancer patients with poor appetiteleaflets to help cancer patients get adequate nourishmentleaflets to help cancer patients with loss of taste

    A number of patient information sheets providing top tips on managing nutrition impact symptoms such as reduced appetite, dry mouth, taste changes, swallowing issues, altered bowel habit and fatigue, as well as a fact sheet focusing on getting ready for treatment (prehabilitation) are also available free to download within the resource.

    GO TO CANCER RESOURCE

  • COPD

    Managing Malnutrition in copdMANAGING MALNUTRITION IN COPD: COMPLETE

    A practical guide to 'Managing Malnutrition in COPD' to assist healthcare professionals in identifying and managing people with COPD who are malnourished or at risk of disease-related malnutrition. Includes a pathway for the appropriate use of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) to support community healthcare professionals.


    Managing Malnutrition in copd summaryMANAGING MALNUTRITION IN COPD: SUMMARY

    A practical guide to 'Managing Malnutrition in COPD' SUMMARISED VERSION to assist healthcare professionals in identifying and managing people with COPD who are malnourished or at risk of disease-related malnutrition. Includes a pathway for the appropriate use of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) to support community healthcare professionals.


    Three colour-coded leaflets for patients and carers are also available to download which contain dietary advice, advice on eating and physical activity and tips on coping with common symptoms of COPD including dry mouth, taste changes and shortness of breath. In addition the red (high risk) leaflet includes advice on incorporating oral nutritional supplements into the diet:

    A green guide nutrition in copd

    Green Leaflet: EATING WELL FOR YOUR LUNGS: for those at low risk of malnutrition

    DOWNLOAD


    A yellow guide nutrition in copdYellow Leaflet: IMPROVING YOUR NUTRITION IN COPD: for those at medium risk of malnutrition

    DOWNLOAD


    A red guide nutrition in copdRed Leaflet: NUTRITION SUPPORT IN COPD: for those at high risk of malnutrition

    DOWNLOAD


  • COVID-19: COVID-19 RESOURCES
    Healthcare Professionals

    ‘A Community Healthcare Professional Guide to the Nutritional Management of Patients During and After COVID-19 Illness’: Guidance to assist healthcare professionals address nutritional issues of patients with COVID-19 who they may be supporting in the community. Endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), British Dietetic Association (BDA) and British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), this guide highlights the importance of providing good nutritional care during this pandemic including suggestions for assessing and identifying nutritional issues when conducting remote consultations.

    A PDF VERSION of this page is also available

    GO TO GUIDE DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION OF THE GUIDE


    Care Homes

     COVID-19 - a nutritional guide= for= care= homes‘Why Good Nutritional Care is Important During and After COVID-19 Illness’ Includes advice for care home staff on dealing with symptoms that may affect the nutritional intake of residents during and after COVID-19 infection

    DOWNLOAD


    Patient and Carers

    ‘COVID-19 & Good Nutrition’ – advice on eating a well-balanced diet to help support the normal functioning of the immune system to help fight off infection along with information on self-screening for malnutrition risk

    GO TO PAGE


    ‘COVID-19 Illness Resource Finder’ – a resource finder which helps you to find the right information for you according to your symptoms

    GO TO RESOURCE TOOL


    Three leaflets, endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), British Dietetic Association (BDA) and British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) are available:

    • Green Leaflet – ‘Eating Well During and After COVID-19 Illness’
    • DOWNLOAD

    • Yellow Leaflet – ‘Improving Your Nutrition During and After COVID-19 Illness'
    • DOWNLOAD

    • Red Leaflet – ‘Nutrition Support During and After COVID-19 Illness’
    • DOWNLOAD

  • DYSPHAGIA

    A fact sheet on dysphagia A pdf guide to helping patients with dysphagia.

    One of a series of HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FACT SHEETS available on this website.

    DOWNLOAD

  • FALLS

    A fact sheet on dysphagiaFact Sheet containing information on the integration of nutrition into falls pathways.

    One of a series of HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FACT SHEETS available on this website.

    DOWNLOAD

  • SARCOPENIA

    leaflets to help cancer patients with poor appetiteThis sarcopenia fact sheet outlines why it is important to identify sarcopenia in all patients whether they are underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. It summarises the multiple factors that can contribute to sarcopenia and the potential consequences to health, giving practical advice on diagnosis and treatment according to the patient's current nutritional status.

    SARCOPENIA FACT SHEET


Management of malnutrition according to risk category

A screening and management pathway using 'MUST' that can be used across care settings to identify adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

DOWNLOAD PATHWAY


Oral Nutritional Supplements: Where individuals require (or already have) a prescription of ONS, this pathway will guide you in setting goals, deciding on dose and duration of ONS, how and when to monitor progress and when to discontinue prescription.

PATHWAY FOR USING ONS


A Guide to Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community: the complete document is available.

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE DOCUMENT


Resources

A selection of publications for use by healthcare professionals, patients and carers are available in the resources section of the website.

RESOURCES AREA

Support for Patients & Carers

A number of resources are available that have been developed to support patients and carers.

PATIENTS & CARERS

Further Information

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