Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Nutrition Intervention for Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review

In North America, the rate of malnutrition among older people is increasing, especially in care facilities. This is mainly associated with increased mortality rates, prolonged hospitalization, and other health problems. Despite the potential benefits of nutritional interventions, there are knowledge gaps in the implementation of nutritional interventions in care homes. A scoping review was conducted to identify the factors and barriers to implementing nutrition interventions for older adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and living in nursing homes. The review included information on adults aged 60 and over and nursing home staff but excluded hospitals and community settings. A search of four electronic databases yielded 16.290 citations, of which 25 studies were eligible for the review. Seventeen themes emerged, which were categorized into six main domains: Organization, staff, intervention, environment, residents, and support. Barriers identified included inadequate education and training, staff turnover, and inconsistent nutritional care. Potential facilitators included training, support strategies, the presence of family or volunteers, consistency, and a focus on specific eating difficulties.