Evaluation of Effectiveness of Nutritional Practical Counseling for Elderly Patients at Risk of Malnutrition on Nutritional Status at Home

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Nutritional Practical Counseling for Elderly Patients at Risk of Malnutrition (and Their Caregivers) on Nutritional Status at Home

At hospital, short term actions are used (adaptation of meals, oral supplementation…) to fight malnutrition. Oral supplementation can have a positive impact on weight gain. But actions should continue at home, particularly to maintain autonomy for elderly. The hypothesis is that practical workshop about enrichment and interest of foods can help malnourished patients to change their eating habits. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of this workshop on improving nutritional status, measured by Mini Nutritional Assessment

This is a mono center cohort study of a 4-months follow-up on elderly patients after hospitalization.

Nutritional parameters and evaluation of the quality of life will be collected during hospitalization and output during a visit at 4 months at home. These parameters will be studied in two groups : nutritional workshop vs usual dietary counseling

Inclusion Criteria:

• malnourished patients or at risk of malnutrition
• coming back home after hospitalization
• affiliated to a social security system
• having given free, informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mini Mental Score <18
• Incapacitated adults and psychiatric inpatients
• Diet indication requiring strict salt restriction
• Severe swallowing difficulties
• Patients with artificial nutrition (enteral or parenteral)
• Impossibility to measure weight at home
• Severe digestive or intestinal malabsorption
• Iterative nausea and vomiting
• Patients with rapidly progressive diseases (life expectancy less than 6 months)