Moderate, severe obesity increasingly common in nursing homes

Moderate, severe obesity increasingly common in nursing homes


People living in nursing homes are increasingly obese, a new study has found.

The study was conducted by University of Arkansas researchers and published in the journal Research in Gerontological Nursing. It reviewed data on the weight of nursing home residents from 2000 to 2010. Sadly, the results don’t paint a pretty picture.

On average, about 15 percent of residents in federally certified nursing homes were moderately or severely obese in 2000. The obesity rate steadily increased during the study period. By 2010, nearly 25 percent of nursing home residents suffered from moderate or severe obesity. Nursing homes in the Midwest tended to have the highest rates.

In addition, there are fewer nursing homes without moderately-to-severely-obese residents. That number fell from almost 5 percent at the start of the study to less than 1 percent by 2010.

The numbers are bad news for seniors in nursing homes, but the figures also present yet another challenge for some nursing homes. The study authors cited prior research that showed nursing homes with higher rates of obese residents tend to provide lower quality care.

News reports related to the Arkansas’ scientists revealed some possible reasons why obesity and quality of care are related. Obese residents require larger equipment, such as beds, walkers, blood pressure cuffs and needles. All of that costs more money. There’s also the extra difficulty involved in helping an obese resident with mobility problems get out of bed and move around.

Obesity among nursing home patients is difficult for everyone: Unlike hospitals, nursing homes aren’t required to accept all patients. That means obese people can languish in hospitals. Nursing homes also don’t receive Medicaid reimbursement for extra-large equipment.

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