Nutritional Status of Elderly in the Old Age Homes: A Study in Pune City

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition among Indian Older Adults: Findings from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18

The study aims to assess the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition and to investigate the association between food insecurity, sociodemographic characteristics, and malnutrition among Indian older adults. Data for 28,004 older adults (60 + years) was extracted from Wave-1 of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, 2017-18. Bivariate analysis was used for prevalence estimates. Multinomial logistic regression provided relative risk ratios (RRR) to determine the association. About 45% of older adults were food insecure and nearly half were malnourished (underweight - 26.7%, overweight - 22.2%). Overweight was widespread in southern, western, and northern India, while underweight and food insecurity were widespread in central, eastern, and north-eastern India. Food insecure older adults were significantly more likely to be underweight (mild: RRR = 1.105, 95% CI = 1.038-1.176; severe: RRR = 1.327, 95% CI = 1.186-1.485). Rather than severe food insecurity, those with moderate food insecurity have the least likelihood of being overweight. Being the oldest, male, widowed, divorced/separated/deserted, having fewer years of schooling, living in a ST or SC household, and in rural areawere associated with higher risk of being underweight; while their other counterparts were of being overweight. No association was found between working status and underweight, meanwhile the non-working older adults were less likely to be overweight (RRR = 0.804, 95% CI = 0.744-0.868). Underweight is strongly linked to food insecurity. In terms of food insecurity and malnutrition, the most vulnerable categories identified include oldest old, widowed, divorced/separated/deserted, SC, ST, economically weaker, and persons without or with only a few years of formal education.

Repercussion of Covid-19 on Health and Nutritional Status of Elderly: Current Scenario

Ageing is an inevitable process with numerous changes in a physiological, biological, cognitive, and social environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented public health crisis globally. Both the problems adversely affect the nutritional and health status of the elderly. Malnutrition, increase risk of chronic morbidities, low socioeconomic status along with social deprivations influence the health and well-being of old age. Lack of physical activity is common due to loss of skeletal muscle mass and an increase of fat mass eventually causes functional inability. The review aimed to report the impact of Covid-19 on the health and nutritional status of the elderly. A thorough recent literature search was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases using specific keywords related to the aims. All related articles published on COVID-19 during 2020 and their effect on health and nutrition in the elderly were retrieved. The study found that nutritional status influences mortality and co-morbidities among the elderly during the COVID-19 situation. Furthermore, the study found that though nutritional indicators, that is, overweight or obese, significantly increase the risk of co-morbid conditions among older adults, good nutrition reduces the risk of all-cause mortality. Although ageing is an irreversible process, it is never too late to start practicing a healthy behavioral lifestyle for achieving healthy ageing.

The Factors Influencing Meal Satisfaction in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing meal satisfaction in older adults.

METHODS

Authors searched four databases Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed using the following key search terms: "(elderly-mp. OR aged), AND (meal OR food OR eating OR feeding), AND satisfaction." Only articles published between January 1946 and May 2018 were considered. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were adopted for quality assessment. The authors ultimately selected 7 of 1,695 references for review and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the factors influencing meal satisfaction in older adults aged more than 60 years. The results showed that meal satisfaction was low when age increased and the individual was served frozen meals. Satisfaction with meals was high when food choices were available and individuals were served high-quality food and when the food smelled and tasted good or was personally tailored. Satisfaction was also high when individuals ate with their families. Moreover, meal satisfaction seemed to be influenced by physical health, whereas it did not show a significant correlation with mental health.

CONCLUSION

Intending to improve the quality of life of older adults by increasing their meal satisfaction, the authors pointed out factors that institutions should attend to when providing meals to older adults. To contribute to the lack of any existing conceptual and theoretical framework in this field, further steps to be taken by the authors shall involve concept analysis that would assist in building a conceptual framework.