Weighing in Care Homes (Complete Guide)
Monitoring the weight of care home residents is crucial for a number of reasons. Weight can often be the first, the clearest or the only indication of poor health.
99% of care homes weigh residents on admission and have procedures in place to frequently monitor readings from then on.
But why are care home residents weighed, and when and how should weighing taking place? All is explained in our new white paper, Weighing In A Care Home: The Complete Guide, which can be downloaded here.
Weight records for you and the dietician
As part of our research, Marsden spoke to Gemma Storey, Deputy Manager of Chapel View Care Home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She told us:
“As a care home it is very important to weigh residents to keep a check on their weight. As some residents may have a poor appetite, which will cause them to lose weight, by weighing them regularly it evidences that we are aware of the matter and the action we have taken.
“It is important that we weigh residents coming into the home, so we have got information if they are losing or gaining weight when admitted into the home.
“As some residents are under (the guidance of) the dietician, it is very important that we get an accurate weight. The dietician will contact the home for regular updates on the resident’s weight.”
Malnutrition in care homes
One of the main reasons weighing in care homes takes place is due to how common cases of malnutrition are in this setting.
Malnutrition affects 10% of adults aged 65 and older. In care homes this figure rises to up to 42%. Overall weight and significant weight loss can be two clear symptoms in spotting the illness.
Oksana Rastegajeva of Abbey View Residence in Sligo, Ireland, who also assisted with the white paper, said: “Malnutrition is not overly common in our residence, but it does happen. It is important to keep an eye on people who are most at risk.
Care home scales
Marsden M-200: This is Marsden’s premium chair scale, with a comfortable, spacious seat and choice of 250kg or 300kg capacity - making it perfect for weighing in care homes.
Marsden M-650: For residents who prefer to be weighed in their own wheelchair, the M-650 is a spacious platform. The wheelchair weight can be deducted from the total reading using the Tare function.
Marsden M-600: Hoist weighing scales are ideal for weighing bedbound patients. The M-600 is MDD approved and can be clipped onto a hoist with ease.
To find out how to weigh patients who are unable to stand, click here. For more information about weighing in care homes using Marsden scales call 01709 364296 or contact us here. The link to download the white paper is below.