Implementing continuity of nutrition care from hospital to home for older medical inpatients with malnutrition or nutritional risk: nursing contributions, barriers, and practice gaps
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Nutrition care for older adults with malnutrition or nutritional risk frequently becomes fragmented after hospital discharge. This Mini Review examines documented continuity failures, evaluated interventions, and nursing contributions within interdisciplinary care. A focused, non-exhaustive PubMed and Europe PMC search was updated through 14 September 2026, with targeted citation checks. Evidence was selected for relevance to acute hospital-to-home care; mixed populations and adjacent settings were distinguished. No formal risk-of-bias assessment or meta-analysis was performed. Audits and qualitative studies identified gaps in discharge information, referral uptake, and support for implementing plans at home. Trials of individualized plans, home or telephone follow-up, food provision, and oral nutritional supplements showed inconsistent nutritional, functional, and service outcomes. Nursing participation was documented in some multicomponent interventions, but its independent contribution was not isolated. Attrition, unequal contact intensity, comparator care, and limited reporting of implementation outcomes constrain interpretation. Drawing on these findings, we propose a literature-informed six-step conceptual framework covering readiness and goals, portable handover, acknowledged responsibility, follow-up, escalation, and audit with feedback. Its operational measures and interdisciplinary responsibilities are specified for prospective testing, not presented as a validated pathway. Evaluation should distinguish clinical effectiveness from delivery, patient adherence, and equitable access, while incorporating patient preferences and caregiver capacity.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition
Authors: Xieyi Wang, Hezhuo Wang
Institutions: Ningbo No.6 Hospital, Ningbo University Affiliated Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223172954