Nutrition of old people in sheltered housing

Abstract

Two hundred and thirty-five sheltered housing tenants (59 men and 176 women) were investigated by using the 24-h dietary recall and checklist devised by the Nutrition Advisory Group on the Elderly (NAGE) to estimate their energy and nutrient intakes, and by measuring their body weight and demi-span to calculate ratios of weight to demi-span. Sixty seven per cent had energy intakes below the mean previously recorded in a national survey of old people living at home, but most had an adequate intake of protein, while, in 44%, the proportion of energy consumed as fat exceeded 35%. For most nutrients, few tenants had intakes below the lower recommended nutrient intake (LRNI). Exceptions were that there were 64% with pyridoxine intakes and 63% with vitamin D intakes below this level. Only 18% of men but 74% of women had weight to demi-span ratios below the means recorded in elderly people living at home in another recent survey. There was no correlation between these anthropometric ratios and energy intakes.

What do elderly people eat?

“…Contrary to popular belief, women are more vulnerable than men[ 7]. The reasons for this finding were not investigated, although it seems possible that women may be perceived – both by themselves and others – as being more independent and therefore less in need of social and nutritional support.…”

“…There is considerable evidence which indicates that undernourishment is a problem among elderly people living in sheltered housing[ 2,6]. Almost without exception, the tenants in the survey were deficient in vitamin D. Reduced exposure to sunlight for the 22 per cent who were housebound exacerbates the problem of insufficient dietary vitamin D[ 2,6,7 ]. A further 58 per cent of tenants had additional nutritional deficiencies[2,6, 7].…”

Factors affecting dietary intake and nutritional status of tenants in sheltered housing

“…The prevalence of dementia varied from zero for tenants under 70 to 14% for those of 85 years and over, while that of depression varied between 13 and 19% respectively. Details on the dietary intakes and anthropometric status of subjects were presented in a companion paper (Caughey et al, 1994). It should be noted that complete data forthis was only available for 214 subjects.…”

“…The selection of subjects and the evaluation of their dietary intake and anthropometric characteristics were described in a previous paper (Caughey et al, 1994). In addition, a questionnaire was used to record information on the sex, age and marital status of tenants, whether they were living alone, their mobility levels inside and outside their home or scheme/complex, Lift arms to reach to a shelf Scores: 1 = easily without help; 2 = with difficulty without help; 3 = with difficulty with Note: Percentages do not add up to 100% because whole numbers were used.…”

“…type of accommodation [Alexander & Eldon, 1979). When this was reviewed in a companion paper, it emerged that many tenants had reduced weighttdemi-span ratios, and that a high proportion had low intakes of energy and of pyridoxine and vitamin D (Caughey et al, 1994). This paper proceeds to review the physical, mental and social characteristics of these tenants and their relationship to dietary intake and nutritional status.…”