A comparison of nutritional intake, functional status and muscle strength between elderly day hospital and day centre attenders in South London

Abstract

Two sample groups of elderly were compared from a population living in South London. One group attended a local day centre (a socially orientated establishment), and the other attended a local day hospital (a therapeutically orientated establishment). The aim of the study was to compare nutritional intake, functional status and muscle strength between these two groups. The mean nutritional intakes of the day hospital and day centre attenders were similar. Intake of macronutrients, with the exception of fibre, met Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) in both groups. In take of folic acid, vitamin D and zinc fell below recommendations in both groups. Low intake of folic acid was improved by supplementation, and some individual blood levels of folate reflected this. Blood folate levels were generally within normal limits. Low intake of vitamin D was improved by supplementation, but blood levels were generally normal anyway. There was, however, a tendency for the more dependent day hospital patients to have lower vitamin D levels. This group also had less sunshine exposure. Communal dining, whether in the setting of day hospital or day centre, may have been an essential means of bolstering nutritional intake for many ‘at risk’ elderly. There were significant differences in functional status and muscle strength in favour of the day centre group and these indicate that anthropometric indices rather than nutritional or biochemical indices were the most reliable markers of disease and disability in this study. The effect of fortifying local meals‐on‐wheels was also highlighted, and suggests that this may be one means of preventing nutritional deficiencies in the vulnerable, house‐bound elderly. Alcohol intake was reported as being modest. However, discrepancies were noted on review of biochemical indices known to be influenced by alcohol intake.

Iron, folate and vitamin B12 status of an elderly South African population

“…These ®ndings indicate that alcohol intake was probably under-reported, particularly in the men. The need to validate reported alcohol intake in this age group has been highlighted by a study of Mowat et al (1992). The extent to which haemoglobinopathies and blood transfusion may have contributed to iron overload was not determined in the present study.…”

Functional ability and nutritional status of free-living elderly people

“…A decrement in hand function appears to be a significant musculoskeletal mechanism causing disablement in basic ADL and may be one of the earliest markers of impending functional decline (Jette et al 1990). Several versions of a simple timed manual performance test have been developed by Williams et al (1982Williams et al ( , 1994, which have proved to be highly correlative and predictive markers of functional dependency, both in the institutional setting and in the community (Ostwald et al 1989;Mowat et al 1992). The test battery involves the performance of commonplace tasks such as opening fasteners, simulating eating, picking up small objects and copying a simple sentence.…”