Quality of life in long-term geriatric care: the dietitian's role.

The dietitian plays a leadership role in improving the quality of life of nursing home residents. A better understanding of this role can strengthen practice in this area. This paper attempts to define the role of the dietitian in the nutritional care of the elderly in long-term care facilities. The impact of poor appetites, extended stays and nutrient requirements on menu planning and recipe development are discussed. Resident empowerment, improvement of the dining environment, evaluation of eating skills, and eating rehabilitation are proposed as new roles for the dietitian in the promotion of food consumption. The characteristics of nutritional assessment and therapeutic diets as they relate to long-term geriatric care are discussed.