Simply taking away salt in nursing homes doesn't seem to lower blood pressure or prevent heart problems, but swapping it for a potassium-rich salt might work better.

We analyzed the available evidence on reducing salt in nursing homes and found that simply removing salt doesn’t appear to lower blood pressure or reduce heart problems [1]. However, the evidence we’ve reviewed leans toward the idea that replacing regular salt with a potassium-rich alternative may have a different effect. This isn’t about cutting salt alone—it’s about what you replace it with. Potassium is a mineral that helps balance sodium in the body and may support healthier blood pressure levels, especially in older adults who often have lower potassium intake. The studies we’ve looked at don’t show harm from reducing salt, but they also don’t show clear benefits unless potassium is part of the change. We don’t have enough data to say whether this swap works for everyone in nursing homes, or how long it takes to see any effect. What we’ve found so far suggests that the approach matters more than just removing sodium. For now, the best clue we have is that swapping salt for a potassium-enriched version might be more helpful than cutting salt by itself. If you’re considering changes in a nursing home setting, it may be worth looking at the type of salt used, not just how much is added.