Managing the Risk for Malnutrition During Your In-Patient, Hospital Admissions

If you are anticipating that a hospital admission will occur in the near future, it is important to be prepared for your overnight stay. Whether your hospital admission requires one overnight or an extended stay, there are a variety of issues that must be addressed so as to ensure your health is well maintained while inpatient.

One of the areas of concern for patients who are about to be admitted to the hospital lies in the maintenance of nutrition. In many hospitals, especially those catering to patients with extended stays, there is a risk fro malnutrition associated with either over-eating or under-eating during the admission period. It is for this reason, therefore, that you should be prepared to manage your own dietary needs during the admission, while under the advisement of your healthcare professional.

Even when considering which hospital you will admit to, you may want to address the issues of nutrition and determine what type of food catering services are offered. Because your particular healthcare complication may require some restrictions to your diet, if you are able to meet with the nutritional staff at the hospital, this may provide for an optimal time in which to proactively prepare for your dietary changes. Often, the catering services within hospitals provide for a general 2000 calorie diet for adults who stay in their facility. Unless there are restrictions to the food guidelines, you can expect your daily dietary intake will offer foods that will reach this 2000 calorie level.

In addition to adjusting your food and nutritional intake, if you find that your food, while in the hospital, is not prepared appropriately, or you are simply unable to eat it, this must be addressed with the healthcare staff. While the hospital is limited in what adjustments can be made to the preparation of your food, there are considerations that can be made so as to prevent over-eating or under-eating during your hospital admission.

For patients in mental health wards or patients in rehabilitation sectors of the hospital, the admission and associated nutritional issues may need to be addressed by a family member or someone who is closely associated with your health case. Ask for support from your family or friends in making the transition from home, to the hospital, and back home. While the support you need encompasses social, emotional and medical support, it will also be important for someone, other than you, to gauge and monitor your dietary intake so as to work with the hospital in preventing malnutrition from becoming a health issue for you.