Nutrition Risk, Resilience and Effects of a Brief Education Intervention among Community-Dwelling Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Up to two-thirds of older Canadian adults have high nutrition risk, which predisposes them to frailty, hospitalization and death. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a brief education intervention on nutrition risk and use of adaptive strategies to promote dietary resilience among community-dwelling older adults living in Alberta, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study design was a single-arm intervention trial with pre–post evaluation. Participants (N = 28, age 65+ years) in the study completed a survey online or via telephone. Questions included the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), SCREEN-14, a brief poverty screen, and a World Health Organization-guided questionnaire regarding awareness and use of nutrition-related services and resources (S and R). A brief educational intervention involved raising participant awareness of available nutrition S and R. Education was offered via email or postal mail with follow-up surveys administered 3 months later. Baseline and follow-up nutrition risk scores, S and R awareness and use were compared using paired t-test. Three-quarters of participants had a high nutrition risk, but very few reported experiencing financial strain or food insecurity. Those at high nutrition risk were more likely to report eating alone, compared to those who scored as low risk. There was a significant increase in awareness of 20 S and R as a result of the educational intervention, but no change in use. The study shows increasing individual knowledge about services and resources in the community is not sufficient to change use of these services or improve nutrition risk.

Resilience in Older People: A Concept Analysis

“…With the perspective of coping associated with resilience, the terms “resilient coping patterns”, “coping resilience”, “resilient coping”, “adaptive coping” [ 31 , 42 , 48 , 65 , 73 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]; for ageing and resilience, “resilient ageing” and “resilience elderly” [ 69 , 80 ]; and for psychology and resilience, “psychological resilience”, “emotional resilience”, and “cognitive resilience” [ 43 , 66 , 70 , 72 , 81 ]. Other terms were also found, such as “resilience protective factors” [ 21 ], “resilience factors” [ 82 ], “physical resilience” [ 72 , 83 , 84 , 85 ], “biological resilience” [ 84 ], “health resilience” [ 72 ], “resilience of quality of life” [ 71 ], “resilient reintegration” [ 72 ], “spiritual resilience” [ 44 ], “cultural resilience” [ 55 ] “community resilience” [ 55 ], “social-ecological resilience” [ 86 ], “family resilience” [ 62 , 87 ], “sustainability” [ 88 ], “individual and interpersonal resilience” [ 62 ] “resilient identity” [ 11 ], “dispositional resilience” [ 72 ], “resiliency” [ 32 ], “multimorbidity resilience” [ 57 , 57 , 59 , 61 ], and “dietary resilience” [ 89 ].…”

“…In the search update, eight studies were included with the theme of resilience in the context of older people during the pandemic. Situations of greater risk of complications from SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, social isolation, economic risk, imminent grief and family distancing aggravated the vulnerable scenario of the elderly [ 25 , 35 , 50 , 59 , 86 , 89 , 105 , 129 ]. Identified, through the resilient dynamics, the presence of attitudes to maintain control in the face of adversity [ 35 ], self-efficacy in measures to protect against infection [ 59 , 89 , 129 ], optimism [ 50 ] and the use of care and social resources [ 25 , 86 , 105 ] in older people show outcomes of greater adaptation during the pandemic.…”

Taking Stock of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Canada: Trends and Challenges

“…Much research has been conducted on the health of individuals [6,7]. Potential reasons for poor nutritional choices are an inheritance of certain foods and tastes [8], an unbalanced nutrient profile, habits, routines, lack of knowledge and information [9], or economic constraints related to time or financial means [10].…”

Optimized nutritional management mitigates short-term muscle mass loss in elderly frail patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease's clinical spectrum includes a wide range from asymptomatic cases to severe respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and death.…”

“…Sarcopenia exhibits a robust correlation with malnutrition and is identi ed as one of its clinical manifestations. Thus, it is evident that malnutrition and sarcopenia increase the vulnerability of individuals to adverse clinical outcomes linked to COVID-19 [19][20][21].…”