• Nursing homes tend to the dietary needs of their residents.elderly lady image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
  
  Nursing homes take care of elderly and terminally ill residents. In addition to providing basic nursing care in areas including assisted mobility, toileting and personal grooming, nurses also tend to the dietary needs of residents. Meals may have to be tailored to individuals who suffer from diabetes or those with high cholesterol levels. Some residents may also require intravenous (IV) feeding. Special diets are usually scheduled through consultation with a physician to ensure all health concerns are met.
  
  

Federal Law

• The Code of Federal Regulations administers guidelines for safe working practices in nursing homes and long-term health facilities. These offer guidance on safer working practices, in terms of hygiene, infection control and general nursing care in nursing homes. The regulations also cover specific requirements of individual residents, stating that a nursing home should provide individual assessments for each resident and adapt a care plan to meet their needs. Any nutritional requirements should be covered within this plan and a schedule drawn up to ensure each resident's dietary needs are met. Any patients with allergies or long-term conditions that can worsen because of exposure to certain foods should have specific meals to protect their health.
  
  

Specific Policies

• Individual nursing homes are required to outline their policies and working practices via a manual or handbook. These should provide specific guidance to residents and their families on meal times and food preparation for those on special diets. Federal law stipulates that residents of nursing homes and long-term health facilities should be fed three times a day. Drinks should also be given as requested to ensure adverse effects such as dehydration do not occur. In addition to medical requirements, personal preferences should also be accounted for, as should cultural variations, according to the Ohio Department of Health website. Some religions forbid the consumption of certain types of meat, for instance, so nursing homes should tailor meals to meet these requirements. Residents who find it difficult to feed themselves should also have a nurse available to assist them during mealtimes.
  
  

DRI Guidance

• The federal government offers further instruction on dietary requirements via the Dietary Reference Intake guidelines. This offers information and guidelines to cover dietary needs across a range of institutions, including long-term health facilities and the military. The DRI provides direction on the food groups required to maintain a balanced diet, including guidance daily requirements for essential vitamins and iron. The DRI is also updated regularly to reflect the most research carried out covering the types and quantities of food people should eat to ensure well-being. Some hospitals and nursing homes hire nutritional professionals to ensure they consistently meet the guidelines of the DRI.