title: Food Anxiety Is Associated with Poor Health Status Among Recently Hospital-Discharged Older Adults.
abstract: Older adults returning home from the hospital may encounter health issues that cause anxiety about their ability to obtain enough food. Home-delivered meal (HDM) programs support nutritional needs and improve food security of those who cannot provide for themselves. A study conducted in six states examined feelings of anxiety about getting enough food in older adults (aged 60 years and older), comparing three time points: prior to hospitalization, at hospitalization (n = 566) and after receiving HDMs for two months posthospitalization (n = 377). Food anxiety during hospitalization was significantly higher among Hispanic ethnicity, current and former smokers, diabetics, and those who eat alone or have difficulty shopping. Food anxiety was significantly lower from baseline to two months follow-up (P < 0.0001), and participants showed improvements in certain coping strategies they used to get their meals. Indicators of food anxiety can help the health care system and community nutrition programs target those at highest risk of negative health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition and Food Science , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaudin
authors.forename: Nadine R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Sahyoun
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D005523:Food Supply; D006304:Health Status; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011203:Poverty; D000069341:Transitional Care
keywords: Meals on Wheels; Older Americans Act Nutrition Program; food anxiety; food insecurity; home-delivered meals; older adults; transitional care