Affiliation:
1. Department of Gerontology, AgeTech-Service Convergence Major, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Medical Nutrition, AgeTech-Service Convergence Major, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
3. The Food Industry Promotional Agency of Korea, Iksan 54576, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Considering that Korea’s aging population is rapidly increasing, health serves as an indicator of older adults’ quality of life, and dietary life directly affects their health. For health maintenance and improvement, preventive healthcare measures including safe food selection and nutritional supply are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of senior-friendly diet on nutrition and health status improvement in older adults receiving community care. A total of 180 older adults were analyzed, with 154 and 26 in the senior-friendly diet intervention group and the general diet group, respectively. Surveys, blood tests, and frailty evaluations were conducted before and after the study. After 5 months of intervention, the blood status, nutrient intake, and frailty level were evaluated. The participants’ mean age was 82.7 years, and 89.4% of them were living alone. In both groups, energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium intake were insufficient initially but generally improved after the intervention. Especially in the intervention group, energy, protein, vitamin D, vitamin C, and folic acid intake significantly increased. The frailty level also slightly improved, and the malnutrition rate was reduced. Even after the passage of time, the improvement effect size significantly differed between the groups. Therefore, resolving and supporting meals corresponding to the physiological needs of the older adults has a great impact on improving their quality of life, and such special consideration is a reasonable way to respond to a super-aged society.
Funder
Korea Food Industry Cluster Promotion Agency’s 2022 Senior-friendly Food Demonstration Project
Subject
Food Science,Nutrition and Dietetics
Reference44 articles.
1. Bah, J., Kang, H.Y., and Kang, Y.H. (2019). Trends in life expectancy among medical aid beneficiaries and National Health Insurance beneficiaries in Korea between 2004 and 2017. BMC Public Health, 19.
2. Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute (2018). Annual Report on Disability Statistics 2018, Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute.
3. Enegy expenditure, physical activity and basal metabolic rate of elderly subjects;Pannemans;Br. J. Nutr.,1995
4. Disorders of the digestive system in the elderly;Shamburek;N. Engl. J. Med.,1990
5. Swallowing in the elderly: Physiological changes, dysphagia, diagnostics and treatment;Muhle;Z. Gerontol. Geriatr.,2019