A breath of rational air
During our daily review of all legislation related to salt, it was a pleasant surprise to come across the final filing and adoption of the West Virginia division of health nursing home licensure rule that became effective July 1, 2007. The purpose of this legislation was to implement state and federal law governing the licensing, operation, and standard of care in nursing homes located in the State of West Virginia. The goal is to help each nursing home resident attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.
Among the requirements explicitly stated are:
8.15.d. - A nursing home shall provide each resident with: Food prepared with salt, unless contraindicated by a physician's order; and, the salt should be iodized.
Finally, legislation based on the genuine requirements of a person rather than a politically correct interpretation of populist nutrition. Time and time again we have read of the negative effects of low salt diets prescribed to nursing home residents leading to chronic dehydration and hyponatriumia (salt deficiency). Often, these low salt diets lead to other major complications including bone fragility and increased cardiovascular risk. The insistence that the salt be iodized is an additional indication that whoever wrote up this rule did their homework. Bravo!It is refreshing to see that there are still legislators out there willing to take on the responsibility of doing things right.
