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Measuring Nutrition-Related Unmet Needs in Recently Hospital-Discharged Homebound Older Adults

Authors :
Nadine R. Sahyoun
Anna Vaudin
Hee-Jung Song
Mira Mehta
Source :
Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics. 37:30-48
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Informa UK Limited, 2018.

Abstract

Functional limitations in homebound older adults may cause difficulties with obtaining and preparing adequate healthy food. Services exist to help with these difficulties, however, not all individuals who could benefit receive them. This secondary analysis of observational data, obtained via questionnaires from homebound, recently hospital discharged older adults (n = 566), aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of unmet need for such services, and to examine the disagreement between self-reported need for a service and functional limitation that could be addressed by that service. One-fifth of respondents reported unmet need for vision services and oral health services, and one-tenth reported unmet need for transportation services and physical therapy. There was a significant association between reported need and functional limitation (p 0.001) for all services, except mental health and grocery delivery. However, for each service there were participants who under-reported need, compared with functional ability indicators. More research is required to determine the best methods for measuring these needs to ensure that nutritional vulnerability is detected and addressed in those returning from hospital.

Details

ISSN :
21551200 and 21551197
Volume :
37
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....3eebad8018634af282c119d0fb770e37
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/21551197.2018.1431587