- Calls to this hotline are currently being directed to Within Health or Eating Disorder Solutions
- Representatives are standing by 24/7 to help answer your questions
- All calls are confidential and HIPAA compliant
- There is no obligation or cost to call
- Eating Disorder Hope does not receive any commissions or fees dependent upon which provider you select
- Additional treatment providers are located on our directory or samhsa.gov
Eating Disorders in Long-Term Care Facilities
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
At some point in life, a person might find that extra help and support is needed to manage a chronic physical or emotional condition over a long period of time. Various medical and psychiatric conditions may make even basic and daily tasks difficult to do, such as bathing, eating, attending to medical needs, using the restroom, managing pain, running errands, and more.
In these situations, long-term care facilities are available to offer assistance to those who might need help due to a disability, illness, terminal condition, injury, or old age. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and supports in their remaining years [1].
Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Long-Term Care Facilities
While long term care can be provided in an array of settings, including a home care service, some of the most common types of long-term care settings include nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, assisted living, community services, senior services, hospice, and adult day cares. Many individuals who are needing assistance via a long-term care facility will require assistance with feeding, and meals are often provided within these type of settings.
For various reasons, the basic skill of eating can become difficult for an individual in a long term care facility. This could be for physical reasons impacted by an illness, such as trouble chewing or swallowing, emotional reasons, such as depression or anxiety, or psychological influences. In some settings, a person who requires feeding assistance or modifications with food textures and who is not receiving the assistance they need may also struggle with eating appropriately.
When more pressing issues are at the forefront of a caregiver’s attention, such as pain management, feeding can be unintentionally pushed to the wayside. Inadequate care with feeding can lead to problematic issues and various forms of disordered eating and more severely, eating disorders.
Follo
wing Up With Your Loved One
wing Up With Your Loved OneIf you have a loved one in a long-term care facility, be sure to check in regularly with caregiving staff and health care providers. Any problematic behaviors or concerning trends should be addressed immediately, such as changes in feeding habits or weight loss. Express any concerns you might have and make it a point to be involved regularly for the care of your loved one.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What do you think about the nature of long term facilities that may make a person more susceptible to an eating disorder?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
References:
[1]: US Department of Health and Human Services, “How Much Care Will You Need?”, http://longtermcare.gov/the-basics/how-much-care-will-you-need/The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on October 18, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
