Meals-on-wheels improves energy and nutrient intake in a frail free-living elderly population.
BACKGROUND
With the increasing life expectancy and associated health care cost in the elderly population, it is fundamental to study and improve interventions that help older persons to have a better and healthier life in their home for a longer period.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) on dietary intakes of frail elderly.


METHODS
An untreated control group quasi-experimental design with pretest and post-test was used to compare users (n = 20) and non-users (n = 31) of MOW. Descriptive and dietary data were compared at pretest and 8 weeks later. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to control for initial differences between groups.


RESULTS
Both groups were similar at pretest except for weight (p = 0.028) and weekly number of meals eaten outside the home (p = 0.008). In both groups, dietary intakes at pretest were below Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) for the same nutrients. At post-test, intake of most nutrients increased in the Experimental group in comparison with the Control group. After controlling with the ANCOVA model, increases were significant for energy (p = 0.050), protein (p = 0.030), lipid (p = 0.034) and thiamin (p = 0.035). Provision of MOW did not permit to achieve a low risk of nutrient inadequacy in the Experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
MOW programs improve dietary intakes of recipients. However, a more intensive intervention is needed to prevent nutrient deficiencies in this group.
Roy
M-A
MA
Research Centre on Aging, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, 1036 Belvedere Sud, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1H 4C4, Canada.
Payette
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome