Abstract
Older adults are at risk for compromised nutritional status because of physical changes associated with aging, as well as cognitive, psychological, and social factors such as dementia, depression, isolation, and limited income. Malnutrition negatively affects quality of life, increases health care costs, and increases the risk of short-term mortality. Nurses and other members of interdisciplinary health care teams play important roles in preventing malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults and in older adults in long-term care settings. This article provides an overview of screening tools and interventions nurses can use to minimize the risk of malnutrition in older adults.