Nutrition risk in home-bound older adults: using dietician-trained and supervised nutrition volunteers for screening and intervention.

Nutrition screening and early intervention in home-bound older adults are key to preventing unfavourable health outcomes and functional decline. This pilot study's objectives were (a) to test the reliability of the Elderly Nutrition Screening Tool (ENS) when administered by dietician-trained and supervised nutrition volunteers, and (b) to explore the feasibility of volunteers' doing nutrition screening and intervention for home-bound older adults receiving home care services. Both participating clients ( n = 29) and volunteers ( n = 15) were community-dwelling older adults. Volunteers met with participating clients, assessed nutritional risk with the ENS, provided nutritional education, and developed and helped implement intervention plans. To assess ENS (c) inter-rater reliability, we compared results obtained by nutrition volunteers and a dietician. Agreement was high (> or =80%) for most items but was higher among volunteers than between volunteers and the dietician. We conclude that nutrition volunteers can assist in screening and educating older adults regarding nutritional risks, but intervention is best left to professionals.