Background: Elderly receiving public services and care are often frail, suffer from chronic diseases, and sustain a high risk for malnutrition. Objective: To evaluate nutritional status and long-term outcome in elderly living at home. Methods: Of 507 eligible subjects receiving home care in five Swedish municipalities, we examined 353 (age 82 ± 7 years, 64% females). The subjects were interviewed, and the nutritional status was assessed by means of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (0–30 points; the lower the score, the greater the risk). The Mini Nutritional Assessment consists of 18 questions concerning, e.g., anthropometry (body mass index or BMI; kg/m²) and global and dietary issues. The mortality was evaluated in 224 study participants after a 3-year period. In one municipality, 31 of 64 elderly were reexamined after 3 years. Results: 8 and 41% of the elderly were assessed as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, respectively. BMIs <20 and <23 were found in 12 and 31% of the subjects, respectively. Chewing and swallowing problems and reduced appetite were more often reported by those at risk of being malnourished compared with the well-nourished study participants (p < 0.001). Meals-on-wheels services were given to one third, of whom 66% used one portion for several meals. The 3-year mortality was 50% for those who were malnourished, 40% for those at risk of malnutrition, and 28% for the well-nourished group (p < 0.05). The corresponding mortality was 50% for subjects with a BMI <20, 35% for those with BMIs 20–28, and 27% for those with a BMI >28 (p = 0.05). After 3 years, a weight loss of 4.0 ± 5.8 kg was registered (p < 0.001). Conclusions: About half of the home-living elderly with public support were malnourished or were at risk of malnutrition. The malnourished subjects often had problems during mealtimes and seldom ate full meals. Elderly with a BMI >28 displayed the lowest risk of death within 3 years.

Background: Weight loss is reported frequently in patients with Parkinson´s disease also early during the disease. Objective: To investigate food habits and nutrient intake in elderly Parkinson´s disease patients compared with matched controls, as well as to compare PD patients with and without weight loss. Methods: Twenty-six elderly free-living patients with PD, and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, were assessed twice with one year interval between. All food consumed was recorded over 3 consecutive days. Food habits were assessed with the Food Based Concept for Classification of Eating Episodes and intakes of energy and nutrients were calculated. PD symptoms, olfaction, swallowing function, daily activities and serum concentration of different nutri ents were investigated. Results: After 1 year, the PD patients decreased their intakes of daily high quality snacks from 0.5 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.3 (p < 0.05) and their prepared complete meals from 0.8 ± 0.3 to 0.6 ± 0.3 (p < 0.05), while their daily number of prepared incomplete meals increased from 0.2 ± 0.2 to 0.3 ± 0.3 (p < 0.01). PD patients with weight loss increased their daily intakes of fat by 12 ± 34 g and their energy intake per kg body weight increased by 21 ± 31 kJ (p < 0.05), respectively, and this was higher than in those without weight loss (p < 0.01). PD patients required more help with buying and cooking food compared with the controls. Conclusions: PD patients’ food habits changed so that they consumed a lower number of prepared complete meals. PD patients with weight loss had a higher intake of fat and energy than those without weight loss, although this was obviously not sufficient to prevent weight loss. Impaired absorption of fat in PD should be discussed.

The majority of elderly patients with leg ulcers live at home and receive treatment for their ulcers within the primary health care system. Little is known about the patients' ability or behaviour in the life situation and how well they manage their daily life at home. The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Multilevel Assessment Instrument (PGC MAI) was used to assess and compare the life situation in 70 patients (mean age 79 +/- 6.5 years) with leg ulcers and in 74 elderly persons (mean age 80 +/- 5.7 years) without leg ulcers. The patients with leg ulcers had significantly lower mean values in the domains of physical health, activity of daily living (ADL), cognition, time use and social behaviour, personal adjustment and environmental quality than those without ulcers. Sixty-three percent of the patients reported ulcer-related pain, and all of them were dependent on health care personnel for dressing changes. This may indicate that the life situation among elderly persons with leg ulcers is not so good as compared with that of elderly persons without ulcers and that patients with leg ulcers are more vulnerable than elderly people of the same age.

The aim of the study was to describe the nutritional intake, meal patterns, physical activity and need for help in nine women living in their own homes and being treated for venous leg ulcers. Food habits were identified by use of interviews and food diaries completed by the women during a period of seven days. The intake of energy and nutrients from 304 eating events during seven days was calculated and meal patterns were evaluated using a qualitative system for meal classification. Physical activity and the degree of need were identified with the help of interviews. The intakes of energy and key nutrients for wound healing, such as protein, vitamin C and zinc, were not optimal according to the Swedish nutrition recommendations, although food habits were well organized. Most of the women had hardly any physical activities and the need of help and support varied, from daily visits to visits every second week.

The nutritional status in patients with leg and foot ulcers is assessed in relation to sociodemographic data, mobility, physical activity, ulcer history, and ulcer-related problems from the patients' point of view. The patients (20 men and 50 women, mean age 79 years) were living in their own homes and treatment was given in primary health care. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to assess nutritional status. Interviews were conducted to collect data on patients' mobility, physical activity, ulcer history and ulcer-related problems. According to the MNA, 32 patients were classified as being at risk of malnutrition and two were malnourished. Patients classified as at risk of malnutrition or malnourishment were usually living alone and were more dependent on aids for mobility and on home-help services than the well-nourished patients (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the well-nourished patients and those classified as at risk of malnutrition or malnourished in the number and the duration of open ulcers. This study shows that risk of malnutrition was common in this elderly population of 70 patients with leg and foot ulcers. Comprehensive patient care should include nutritional assessment and preventive actions to restore the nutritional status before malnutrition is manifest.