Food insecurity prevalence was assessed for 189 community-dwelling older adults participating in congregate meals, using the national CPS-FSSM survey, based on economics, and augmented items, including such factors as ability to prepare and/or shop for food. Results showed that 80.4% were food secure; lower than the national rate for older adult households (92.4%). Age, gender, and educational level were found to be statistically significant indicators of food security status. Scores based on national versus augmented items were significantly correlated, but scores for augmented items showed higher levels of food insecurity for 29.1% of participants, indicating these items were identifying at-risk individuals overlooked using only the national economics-based items.
Food security status was assessed for 143 West Central Indiana community-dwelling older adults participating in a home-delivered meals program, using the national CPS-FSSM survey, based on economics, and augmented items, including such factors as ability to prepare and/or shop for food. Results showed that 74.8% were food secure, much lower than the national rate for households with elderly (94.0%). Gender and age were found to be statistically significant predictors of food security status (national items). Scores based on national versus augmented items were significantly correlated, but scores for augmented items showed more food insecurity, indicating these items identified more food insecure older adults than the national items alone.
This study assessed gaps in nutrition education between what was offered by organizations and what was wanted by older adults. In Phase I, 258 gatekeepers were interviewed. In Phase II, 37 non-institutionalized older adults were assigned to five focus groups. Study results indicated a consistency between gatekeepers and participants for services, topics, methods/information sources, and communication routes. However, a gap was found because participants wanted education on more topics and were interested in more specific information, whereas gatekeepers provided more general information. This study concluded that gatekeepers need to provide more topics and in greater specificity when planning for nutrition education programs for older adults.
Five focus groups assessed the nutrition education wants and needs of 37 non-institutionalized older adults ages 60 and older. Discussions were tape-recorded, transcribed and coded to facilitate data analysis. Findings cited most frequently included; doctors were influential, nutrition contributed to good health, basic nutrition topics were wanted/needed, written materials were used most often, demonstration and discussion methods were prevalently used/wanted, and service providers were primarily informed directly about wants/needs. Older adults wanted/needed nutrition education to improve their health and make informed decisions, and because the topic interested them. Information obtained could be used to develop more focused nutrition education programs for older adults.
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