Country of Origin Predicts Nutrition Risk Among Community Living Older People

Overview

Journal J Nutr Health Aging

Specialties Geriatrics
Nutritional Sciences

Date 2011 Mar 26

PMID 21437555

Citations 9

Authors

C Wham

R Carr

F Heller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the nutrition risk status of community living older people and to identify associated risk factors.

Design: A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling.

Setting: North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand. Data collection was carried out by a research nutritionist using computer assisted personal interviewing in the participant's own home.

Participants: Fifty-one independently living people aged between 80 and 85 years.

Measurement: A survey using three validated questionnaires: Practitioner Assessment of Network Type (PANT) to evaluate social networks; Elderly Assessment System (EASY-Care) to evaluate physical and mental wellbeing and Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition Version II (SCREEN II) to assess nutrition risk.

Results: A third of the participants (31%) were at high risk of malnutrition (SCREEN II score <50; range 29-58 out of maximum score of 64). The majority of participants (82%) lived alone and nearly half (47%) had supportive social networks including close relationships with local family, friends and neighbours. Low self-rated health, disability and social factors (being born outside of New Zealand, losing a spouse and loneliness) were key underlying factors associated with being at nutrition risk.

Conclusion: Nutrition risk is common among aged individuals living in the community. Health and social factors that shape eating behaviours place older people at increased nutrition risk. Strategies are needed for the early identification of risk factors to prevent nutrition problems. Engaging older people at risk to share meal preparation and dining experiences may foster better outcomes.

Citing Articles

Nutrition risk varies according to social network type: data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Mills C, Keller H, DePaul V, Donnelly C Fam Med Community Health. 2023; 11(1).

PMID: 36813466 PMC: 9950914. DOI: 10.1136/fmch-2022-002112.

Ageing rate of older adults affects the factors associated with, and the determinants of malnutrition in the community: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Bardon L, Corish C, Lane M, Bizzaro M, Loayza Villarroel K, Clarke M BMC Geriatr. 2021; 21(1):676.

PMID: 34863118 PMC: 8642873. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02583-2.

Identifying and Managing Malnutrition, Frailty and Sarcopenia in the Community: A Narrative Review.

Roberts S, Collins P, Rattray M Nutrients. 2021; 13(7).

PMID: 34371823 PMC: 8308465. DOI: 10.3390/nu13072316.

Eating Alone or Together among Community-Living Older People-A Scoping Review.

Bjornwall A, Sydner Y, Koochek A, Neuman N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(7).

PMID: 33801775 PMC: 8036467. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073495.

Disparities in dietary quantity and quality between the two different types of Korean family of older adults living with spouses and living alone: using data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Choi Y, Park H, Song K, Lee Y, Lim Y Nutr Res Pract. 2020; 14(3):242-251.

PMID: 32528631 PMC: 7263895. DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.3.242.

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