Depression is also a major cause of weight loss in long-term care settings, accounting for up to 36 percent of residents who have weight loss. For three years, the Council for Nutritional Clinical Strategies in Long Term Care has established a clinical guideline to manage malnutrition and involuntary weight loss among residents of long-term care facilities. The guideline recommends a structured approach to the management of unintended weight loss, primarily because body weight is easily measured, but the evaluation of unintended weight loss is difficult. The journal is a refereed publication of the Gerontological Society of America, the national organization of professionals in the field of aging. The Clinical Guide for physicians, pharmacists, and dietitians focuses on differential diagnosis.
Emphasis is made on reporting of medical conditions and decline in activities of daily living.
The guideline also emphasizes the cognizance of delirium, depression and mood disorders in residents, and notes that reversal of delirium may result in resumption of appetite. The study also noted that drugs have been found to be a cause of weight loss, and suggests that in consultation with pharmacist, all drugs potentially aggravating anorexia should be discontinued. Drugs that stimulate appetite are available and can lead to reversal of malnutrition. The clinical guide is divided into two parts, one designed for nursing staff, dietary and dietitians and a second guide for physicians, pharmacists and dietitians. Medical Sciences stated This guideline offers health professionals a simple approach to improving the well being of older persons.