I've never heard of that particular, but I've had to improvise many times while working with a patient's food preferences. In the LTC where I once worked, we mixed Promod powder with milkshakes, puddings, and yes, even soft ice cream. We also used Boost or Ensure as the base for milkshakes (lots of people don't care for these supplements when used alone, but when you whip up a shake with strawberry Boost, real ice cream and frozen strawberries, it becomes a treat!
). Plus, I made sure that my nutritionally at-risk residents received a multivitamin and Vitamin C every day, and if they'd eat meats and vegetables at all, they got extra gravy and lean protein.
Of course, all of this only works when you can get the food INTO the resident........I've found that FTT and depression often go hand in hand, and a nightly dose of Remeron can not only help the depression but increase appetite. Some years back, there was a resident on my skilled wing who was 6'2" and weighed 115# when he came to us from the hospital; he was A&O, but he was depressed and fatigued from many months of illness, and he was ready to give up. We tried almost everything to get some nutrients in him except a PEG tube, and he wasn't willing to go that far; luckily, I'd done some reading in a nursing journal about Remeron, which was still fairly new at that time, and after getting an OK from the resident I asked his doctor to try him on a 15 mg. dose at HS. (It seems the smaller doses are more effective in stimulating appetite and less sedating.)
Within weeks, his outlook was brighter, and his weight was up by eight pounds. Within months, he'd gained 30# and even begun to ambulate again; eventually he left us for an assisted living facility where he still resides today, happy and active. I run into him in town every now and again, and he still remembers me from those long, dark days when everyone, including himself, thought that he would never leave the NH except feet first. And although much of it was his doctor's and his own doing, he even credits me with saving his life.
There are other meds that can also serve as appetite stimulants, such as Marinol and Megace, but you have to proceed very carefully with any of them.
Good luck to both you and your resident, and I hope you can find that ice cream soon!
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Re: Geriatric nurses, can you help?
The website seems to be a UofW purchasing contract from a local vendor.
