NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE FREE-LIVING ELDERLY

Objectives: Measuring malnutrition is difficult in all settings and confused with the signs of aging. Mini nutritional assessment is an effective tool designed to identify older adults who have a risk of developing malnutrition. Methods: Three hundred and one free-living elderly who lived with their family or alone were included in the study. Nutritional screening was performed with mini nutritional assessment and mini nutritional assessment short form. Dietary intake was assessed by a 3-days weighted food record. Results: According to mini nutritional assessment in the 65-74 years young-old group, malnutrition, risk of malnutrition, and normal nutrition was 2.4%, 39.5%, 58.2%, respectively, and in the 75-84 years old-old group it was 10.2%, 48.7%, 41.0%, respectively, and in the older than 85 years oldest-old group 92.3%, 7.7%, 0%, respectively. The lowest nutritional intake by recommended dietary allowance was zinc and the highest intake was sodium. Neither young-old group nor old-old group nor oldest-old group met the B12 and zinc requirements. Conclusions: The free-living elderly at an age of 85 years and above are, accompanied by the existence of factors which may mask their weight losses, under a severe risk of malnutrition unless they receive adequate medical care and attention.