Enteral nutrition in geriatric patients

Article type: Editorial

Authors: Berner, Yitshal N.^a

Affiliations: [a] Geriatric Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. e-mail: ferrari_cl@hotmail.com

Abstract: The elderly are an important part of the population. They are more frail, more often sick and it takes them longer to get better; therefore they consume a larger proportion of health services. Nutrition is adjuvant to medical treatment. Swallowing disorders are common in elderly patients. These may be manifestations of different neurological disorders, but the most common swallowing disorder is deconditioning during acute illness. Enteral nutrition bypasses the swallowing system, using nasogastric tubes or percutaneous gastric and enteric tubes. These feeding technologies can supply the needs of the elderly patient. Nevertheless, rehabilitation of the swallowing system, giving the elderly patient optimal functionality, is our main task. In addition to the medical treatment, logotherapists also have a crucial role in swallowing rehabilitation. Enteral nutrition (EN) is an essential part of geriatric medicine.

Keywords: Elderly, Nutrition support, Enteral nutrition, Ethics

DOI: 10.3233/s12349-008-0021-4

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 141-144, 2009