Background – Many elderly are at increased risk of poor nutritional intake following increased sedentary behaviour and low food consumption impacted on by other complex social and psychological factors. Most studies investigating the nutritional status of the elderly focus on those in nursing homes (high level care) or free-living elderly in the community. Few studies have examined those living in hostels (low level care).
Objective – To determine the nutritional status of elderly residents in low level care.
Design – Cross sectional study of 77 residents (59 women, 18 men) from 10 low level care facilities in metropolitan
Melbourne. Nutrient intake was assessed by three day weighed food records; body composition by DXA and height
and weight via usual methods. Blood samples were drawn and analysed for serum albumin.
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Outcomes – Residents were aged 83 ± 18.1 years (mean ± SD) with a mean BMI of 27.1 ± 4.7 kg/m in women and
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25.7 ± 3.5 kg/m in men. Few women (9.4%) or men (6%) were underweight (BMI<22 kg/m ) while almost half
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were overweight or obese (47% women, 44% men with BMI> 27 kg/m ). A significant proportion of residents were
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sarcopenic as determined by appendicular skeletal muscle mass/ht , (24.5% of women <5.4, 43.7% of men <7.26).
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Moreover, 17% of women with a BMI > 22 kg/m were sarcopenic, as were 31.2% of men. Only five women
(9.2%) and no men had low serum albumin. Average energy intakes were 6.5 ± 1.9 MJ/day for women and 8.1 ± 1.6 MJ/day for men.
Average intakes of protein, fibre, calcium, zinc, magnesium and folate were low (56.3 ± 17.1g/day, 16.5 ± 4.8 g/day, 668 ± 284 mg/day, 7 ± 2mg/day, 215 ± 69mg/day, 207 ± 69g/day, respectively), with many not meeting the EAR or RDI. There were no gender differences in nutrient intake after correction for energy intake.
Conclusions – Elderly people living in low level residential care demonstrate a degree of poor nutritional intake. They may be sarcopenic even when apparently within a healthy weight range. Periodic monitoring of residents may help ensure that nutritional deficiencies are addressed and poor nutritional status does not become chronic in this group.