Comparison of nutritional risk between urban and rural elderly.
Urban and rural elderly face a multitude of barriers to healthy aging and maintaining adequate nutrition. Looking at commonalties and differences between urban and rural elderly that are associated with nutritional risk is an important first step in identifying and correcting nutritional insufficiencies. To examine health behaviors and nutritional information associated with nutritional risk in urban and rural areas and to develop a profile of nutritional risk for rural and urban elderly, data from one retrospective and two prospective studies were analyzed. One hundred, eighty-three (183) urban-living and 167 rural-living older adults (average age 77 years old) participated in the studies. More than 60% of participants were women. Overall health ratings were significantly higher for urban than for rural elderly. Rural dwellers had significantly fewer dental visits (41% versus 76%) but higher albumin values than their urban counterparts. Results from the synthesis of these four studies indicate that as people become more physically debilitated and lose independence in daily activities, their risk for malnutrition increases and their quality of life decreases. Although rural residents are believed to be at higher risk of malnutrition, these results suggest that this may not be the case. Physical, social, and environmental factors may affect the nutritional status of seniors regardless of where they reside.
Zulkowski
Karen
K
Montana State University-Bozeman, College of Nursing, Billings 59101, USA. karenz@montana.edu
Coon
Patricia Jay
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009009:Montana; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population