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Dementia-Related Mealtime Difficulties: Assessment and Management in the Long-Term Care Setting

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Abstract

By the year 2050, the number of persons with dementia aged 65 and older in the United States is expected to increase from 5.4 to 16 million persons [1]. While most persons with dementia (PWD) prefer to be cared for in their home environment, as the disease causes progressive functional and behavioral decline many will require institutional care. For these PWD, this means placement in assisted-living facilities or skilled nursing homes (NH). The number of PWD in the NH setting is expected to double to three million by the year 2050 [1]. While NHs attempt to address the multiple needs of their residents, the very basic need for adequate nutrition to promote health may be compromised by frailty, chronic illness, and cognitive decline.

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Correspondence to Melissa Batchelor-Aselage Ph.D., R.N.-B.C., F.N.P.-B.C. .

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Batchelor-Aselage, M., Amella, E.J., Rose, S.B., Bales, C.W. (2015). Dementia-Related Mealtime Difficulties: Assessment and Management in the Long-Term Care Setting. In: Bales, C., Locher, J., Saltzman, E. (eds) Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1929-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1929-1_18

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