monitoring meal intake

[Park Lane MDS]

I have a question for the group.  We are getting ready to start changing our dining room/meal time.  We are planning on doing the buffet meals.  The question our CDM possed to me after seeing some other facilities that are doing this is how do you monitor meal intake.  Right now we have had no significant wt. loss, or decubs, and our consultant says we are doing ok.  But right now I am on a fact finding mission.  How does everyone monitor meal intake and watch for wt. loss.  We thought maybe making the res. plate somehow to indicate to staff they are at risk for wt. loss, dehydration etc.  But if you do the buffett, which gives the res. a choice of what to eat, and what to put on their plate, then you may have 4 different types of meal intake. (hope that made sense).  I appreciate your suggestions.  My other question is how did each of you start the process, and was wandering if the facilities doing the buffett meal time if they could fax me their policy and procedures and let me know how they started the process.  Would like to see what other facilites are doing and how it is also going. Thank you in advace, Shellie Emahizer RN RAC-C fax: 620-872-2128