Appetite Stimulants for Older Adults

This webinar was presented live on May 25, 2023. The CPE associated with this event expires on December 31, 2025.

Commonly observed in older adults, appetite loss has multifactorial etiologies such as chronic disease, recovery from major surgery and altered hormone secretions. To counter this, the use of appetite stimulant use is growing in both ambulatory and acute-care settings. This informative webinar addresses the appropriate indications and contraindications of common appetite stimulants and explains how RDNs can work with an interdisciplinary team to recommend appropriate interventions.

Planned in collaboration with the Dietitians in Nutrition Support (DNS) dietetic practice group. Free for DNS members.

CPE Level: 2
CPEU: 1.0 (valid until December 31, 2025)

Performance Indicators:

• 10.4.4 Considers client/patient factors, nutritional impacts, indications, side effects, contraindications, benefits, risks, alternatives and foundational sciences when prescribing, recommending or administering nutrition-related drug therapy.
• 10.4.6 Monitors responses and effects of nutrition-related drugs and takes required act
• 10.3.9 Leads the implementation of nutrition interventions in collaboration with clients/patients and the interprofessional team.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the common appetite stimulants and indications for use with interdisciplinary team.
2. Make appropriate recommendations on starting appetite stimulants for older adults.
3. Provide recommendations of which appetite stimulant is appropriate for specific patients.

Speakers:

Caitie Gwaltney, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, has been an RDN since 2018 and has experience with various patient populations, most notably the surgical oncology population. She completed her undergraduate at University of Arizona, her dietetic internship at Baylor University Medical Center, and obtained a MS in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Alabama. After four years in the inpatient setting Caitie transitioned to the home infusion industry, where she continues to provide nutrition support to chronically ill patients.

Mary House, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, has been a dietitian for 6 years, specializing in nutrition support and oncology. She completed her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University and dietetic internship and MS in Nutrition at Texas Woman's University. Most recently she has worked in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit at Baylor University Medical Center, working with hematological malignancy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant.