Living alone, receiving help, helplessness, and inactivity are strongly related to risk of undernutrition among older home-dwelling people (original) (raw)
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Nutritional self-care in two older Norwegian males: a case study
Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2013
Background: Knowledge about how to support nutritional self-care in the vulnerable elderly living in their own homes is an important area for health care professionals. The aim of this case study was to evaluate the effects of nutritional intervention by comparing perceived health, sense of coherence, self-care ability, and nutritional risk in two older home-dwelling individuals before, during, and after intervention and to describe their experiences of nutritional self-care before and after intervention. Methods: A study circle was established to support nutritional self-care in two older homedwelling individuals ($65 years of age), who participated in three meetings arranged by health professionals over a period of six months. The effects of this study circle were evaluated using the Nutritional Form For the Elderly, the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly (SASE), the Appraisal of Self-care Agency scale, the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, and responses to a number of health-related questions. Qualitative interviews were performed before and after intervention to interpret the changes that occurred during intervention. Results: A reduced risk of undernutrition was found for both participants. A higher total score on the SASE was obtained for one participant, along with a slightly stronger preference for self-care to maintain sufficient food intake, was evident. For the other participant, total score on the SASE decreased, but the SOC score improved after intervention. Decreased mobility was reported, but this did not influence his food intake. The study circle was an opportunity to express personal views and opinions about food intake and meals. Conclusion: An organized meeting place for dialogue between older home-dwelling individuals and health care professionals can stimulate the older person's engagement, consciousness, and learning about nutritional self-care, and thereby be of importance in reducing the risk of undernutrition.
Public Health Nutrition, 2016
ObjectiveIt is generally thought that causes of undernutrition are multifactorial, but there are limited quantitative studies performed. We therefore examined a wide range of potential factors associated with undernutrition in community-dwelling older adults.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingCommunity-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) receiving home care in the Netherlands.SubjectsData on potential factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition were collected among 300 older adults. Nutritional status was assessed by the SNAQ65+instrument. Undernutrition was defined as mid-upper arm circumference <25 cm or unintentional weight loss of ≥4 kg in 6 months. Being at risk of undernutrition was defined as having poor appetite and inability to walk up and down stairs of fifteen steps, without resting.ResultsOf all participants, ninety-two (31·7 %) were undernourished and twenty-four (8·0 %) were at risk of undernutrition. Based on multivariate logistic regression analyses, the statis...
2019
Background: Malnutrition is an important and common public hea lth problem that is frequently not diagnosed earlier among the elderly living in a home, nursing home, or hospital environment. Nurses can prevent the development of malnutrition and loss of functional ability in the elderly by evaluating malnutrition r isks. Objective: This research aimed to determine the relationship between malnutrition risks and functional abilities of the elderly living in a home environment, while revealing malnutrition risks and other affecting fa ctors. Methods: This research was planned to be descriptive and co rrelational, with a total of 288 elderly participan ts (73.8 ± 7.2) (aged >65 years) being included. Three qu stionnaires were administered to gather data on demographic characteristics, malnutrition risks and functional abilities. Result: Upon examination of Mini Nutritional Assessment sc ores, 47.2% of the participants were found to have malnutrition risks, while 15.6% were identifie...
The impact of nutritional status on the health and quality of life of older adults
2011
This work is not a peer-reviewed publication. Though the author of this work has provided a summary of the best available evidence at the time of writing, readers are encouraged to use this CAT as a starting point for further reading and investigation, rather than as a definitive answer to the clinical question posed or as a substitute for clinical decision-making.
Clinical Nutrition, 2012
Background & aims: There is no valid, fast and easy-to-apply set of criteria to determine (risk of) undernutrition in community-dwelling older persons. The aim of this study was to develop and validate such criteria. Methods: Selection of potential anthropometric and undernutrition-related items was based on consensus literature. The criteria were developed using 15-year mortality in community-dwelling older persons ! 65 years (Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, n ¼ 1687) and validated in an independent sample (InCHIANTI, n ¼ 1142). Results: Groups distinguished were: (1) undernutrition (mid-upper arm circumference <25 cm or involuntary weight loss !4 kg/6 months); (2) risk of undernutrition (poor appetite and difficulties climbing staircase); and (3) no undernutrition (others). Respective hazard ratio's for 15-year mortality were: (1) 2.22 (95% CI 1.83e2.69); and (2) 1.57 (1.22e2.01) ((3) ¼ reference). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.55. Comparable results were found stratified by sex, excluding cancer/obstructive lung disease/(past) smoking, using 6-year mortality, and applying results to the InCHIANTI study (hazard ratio's 2.12 and 2.46, AUC 0.59). Conclusions: The developed set of criteria (SNAQ 65þ ) for determining (risk of) undernutrition in community-dwelling older persons shows good face validity and moderate predictive validity based on the consistent association with mortality in a second independent study sample.
Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Might Pose a Double Burden for Older Adults
Nutrients
Although food insecurity has been associated with a disadvantageous socioeconomic status, especially in older adults, its association with comorbidities is less clear. The scope of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of food insecurity among older adults and evaluate the association between food insecurity, malnutrition, chronic disease, multimorbidity and healthcare utilization. A total of 121 older adults (mean (standard deviation) age: 72.6 (8.1)) were recruited from a Primary Care Health Center from 10 August 2019 to 10 September 2019. Food insecurity and malnutrition status were assessed by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and Mini Nutritional Assessment tool, respectively. Recorded variables included financial, family data and comorbidities. The prevalence of food insecurity in the sample reached 50.4%, with men and older adults malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, exhibiting high risk for food insecurity. Multimorbidity, frequency of ...
Nutritional intake and malnutrition in institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults
British Journal of Nutrition, 2021
Malnutrition (synonym: undernutrition) is prevalent among older adults, which may be partly related to changes in dietary intake, but evidence on the link between malnutrition and diet is scarce. The aims of this study were to estimate the association between energy/nutrients intake and malnutrition, and to characterise nutritional inadequacy in institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults. A national survey was conducted including a Portuguese representative sample of nursing home (NH) residents (n 563) and community-dwellers (n 837) aged ≥ 65 years. Data included socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported health, loneliness feelings, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment®) and dietary intake (two non-consecutive 24-h recalls). A higher energy intake was associated with lower odds of malnutrition risk (being ‘at risk of malnutrition’ or ‘malnourished’) in both settings, but only significant among NH residents after adjusting for confounders (NH: OR = 0·6...
Quality of Life Research, 2011
Purpose To explore the association between risk of malnutrition as well as current body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly men and women from the general population. Methods In a cross-sectional population survey including 1,632 men and 1,654 women aged 65 to 87 years from the municipality of Tromsø, Norway, we assessed HRQoL by using the EuroQol (EQ-5D) instrument in three risk groups of malnutrition and in different categories of BMI. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool ('MUST') was used to evaluate the risk of malnutrition. Results We found a significant reduction in HRQoL with an increasing risk of malnutrition, and this was more pronounced in men than in women. The relationship between BMI and HRQoL was dome shaped, with the highest score values in the BMI category being 25-27.5 kg/m 2 . Conclusions HRQoL was significantly reduced in elderly men and women at risk of malnutrition. The highest HRQoL was seen in moderately overweight individuals.
High prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch community-dwelling older individuals
Nutrition, 2012
Objective: To examine the prevalence of undernutrition in community-dwelling older individuals (65 y) using data from various settings. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed to examine the prevalence of undernutrition in three samples (all 65 y): 1) 1267 community-dwelling individuals participating in a large prospective population-based study, the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) in 1998/99; 2) 814 patients receiving home care in 2009/10; and 3) 1878 patients from general practices during the annual influenza vaccination in 2009/10. Undernutrition was assessed by the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire 65þ. Results: Mean age was 77.3 y (SD 6.7) in the LASA sample, 81.6 y (SD 7.4) in the home care sample, and 75.3 y (SD 6.5) in the general practice sample. The prevalence of undernutrition was highest in the home care sample (35%), followed by the general practice (12%) and LASA (11%) samples. The prevalence of undernutrition increased significantly with age in the general practice and LASA samples. Gender differences were observed in the general practice and home care samples; women were more likely to be undernourished in the general practice sample and men were more likely to be undernourished in the home care sample. Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition in Dutch community-dwelling older individuals was relatively high, especially in home care patients.