title: Meals-on-wheels improves energy and nutrient intake in a frail free-living elderly population.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre on Aging, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, 1036 Belvedere Sud, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1H 4C4, Canada.
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Payette
mesh_terms: 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