Understanding factors affecting food intake in elderly women living in the community

• Main Author: Cheung, Winnie, 1979-
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 2006
• Subjects: Older women > Nutrition.; Older women > Nutrition > Social aspects.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=97929

Many community-dwelling seniors are reported to have inadequate dietary intakes. Factors affecting food intake have been studied mainly from the perspectives of health professionals. As the reasons for adequate food intake are complex, understanding the seniors' perspective could provide further help in understanding their needs. === Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of eight community-dwelling women aged 73 to 91 who were at-risk of malnutrition. A qualitative analysis showed the women were reporting three essential aspects: struggling to maintain their independence (i.e., frustration with health care, stereotyping seniors, simplifying cooking); learning new ways of functioning (i.e., adapting to health limitations, simplifying meals etc) and; taking control (i.e., planning own meal and food supplies, monitoring health and keeping physically and mentally active). Finally, this qualitative research paradigm was useful and it demonstrated how careful listening could help to understand the individual needs of free-living seniors at risk of malnutrition.