Views of community-dwelling, old-old people on barriers and aids to nutritional health.
OBJECTIVE
To examine barriers and aids to maintaining the nutritional health of community-dwelling old-old residents from their perspectives.


METHODS
Cross-sectional exploratory study completed in March 2002 of old-old people living independently in one county in the Midwestern United States (US).


METHODS
Sixty-eight in-home interviews were conducted with community-dwelling people aged 80 or older. Content analysis was done to examine answers to two open-ended questions about barriers and helps to nutritional health.


RESULTS
These old-old people believed they were doing well nutritionally despite reduced independence and physical limitations. They were positive about their lives and creative in problem solving to remain independent. Social connectedness was the major factor for maintaining independence into old age. The leading barrier to maintaining nutritional health was health problems. Those with more barriers were more likely to be depressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of aids and barriers to nutritional health, from a personal perspective, gives an understanding of the issues and concerns of old-old people.
Callen
Bonnie L
BL
University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, Knoxville, TN, USA. bcallen@uwalumni.com
Wells
Thelma J
TJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011340:Problem Solving; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires