Characteristics associated with low food and fluid intake in long-term care residents with dementia.

This article describes the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of, as well as characteristics associated with, the food and fluid intake of 407 residents with dementia in 45 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Overall, 54% of observed residents had low food intake, and 51% had low fluid intake. Staff monitoring of residents, having meals in a public dining area, and the presence of noninstitutional features were each associated with higher food and fluid intake.