Working Life: Most referrals are for people at risk of malnutrition or already malnourished

Suzanne Hayes, senior dietician, HSE Kildare West Wicklow Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP)

Mon, 15 Jul, 2024 - 12:04

Catherine Shanahan

7am

The first job of the day is breakfast for our dog Rusty who greets me every morning like a long-lost friend. I get sorted for work before rousing the rest of the house.

8.30am

Our ICPOP office is at St Mary’s in Naas, a short five-minute walk from home. At my desk, coffee in hand, I go through emails and prep for our weekly multidisciplinary team case meeting

9am

During the meeting we discuss care plans for clients within our community specialist team. We see people over the age of 65 with complex medical needs, with a focus on falls, frailty and dementia. ICPOP is a relatively new service, in operation since October 2022. Our goal is to help people stay healthy at home for longer and avoid being admitted to hospital. We very much keep the person at the centre of our service and are guided by what matters most to them.

10am

We again sit down as a team and review new referrals. I grab a coffee and a snack and organise charts for home visits. I see most clients through home visits. They can be more than an hour away from base, but it’s an integral part of bringing client care closer to their communities.

11am

I have four home visits today, including two new clients. The majority of referrals are for people either at risk of malnutrition or who are already malnourished. Loss of muscle strength and function is also an issue. For all new clients, I complete a comprehensive nutritional assessment. I look at their usual food intake, taking into account their medical history, medications, blood results, and weight history. With the client’s input, we put together a nutrition care plan and make arrangements for follow-up.

4pm

I finish my last call and return client files to our office before heading home. I’m really enjoying being part of this new dynamic older person’s team. While it’s very busy, I know from feedback from our clients and their carers that we are making a big difference in helping the older people of Kildare West Wicklow stay in their own homes for as long as possible, which is where ultimately all of us want to be.