Advertisement

Advertisement

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels: Combating Malnutrition in the Elderly

Meals on Wheels: Combating Malnutrition in the Elderly

Teaser: 

Philip Dopp, BSc

The nutritional status of the elderly can be helpful in examining the health of this population. One study found that malnutrition among the elderly is associated with a variety of problems such as the development of pressure sores and fractured femurs.1 Others have found that poor nutrition predisposes the elderly to infections, as those who are malnourished are 3.3 times more likely to be infected with a community-acquired bacterial pneu-monia.2 Of even greater importance, is the demonstrated fact that poor nutritional status, as measured by body mass index, is an important predictor of mortality in the elderly.3 Given that studies have found that among population of seniors, the prevalence of malnutrition can be as high as 60%, and considering the consequences which can ensue, malnutrition represents a problem that warrants concern.4 In an attempt to deal with this problem, programmes such as Meals on Wheels® (MOW) have been developed to provide nutritional services for the elderly.

the philosophy of MOW was to help frail elderly and disabled persons in the community avoid premature or unnecessary institutionalization.