Care of the morbidly obese patient in a long-term care facility.

Morbidly obese patients in a long-term care (LTC) facility have special physical and emotional needs that must be considered when planning care. Special attention to the skin, vital sign monitoring, and rehabilitative care are among the interventions that must be integrated into the otherwise standard care of the morbidly obese patient. A case study is used to illustrate the challenges and special needs of such patients in an LTC facility in New York state. Morbidly obese people (nonambulatory people who are obese) frequently are unable to perform self-care. The care of the morbidly obese adult who resides in an LTC or postacute care facility, in particular, offers unique challenges to nursing staff.