TY - JOUR AU - M Marais AU - D Marais AU - D Labadarios PY - 2008/02/29 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Assessment of nutritional status of older people in homes for the aged in the Somerset West area JF - South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition JA - SAJCN VL - 20 IS - 3 SE - Original Research DO - UR - http://www.sajcn.co.za/index.php/SAJCN/article/view/223 AB - Owing to the paucity of data in South Africa regarding older people (>60 years) living in homes for the aged,the aim of this study was to evaluate their nutritional status in a convenient sample of homes for the aged(N=4) in the Somerset West area.In the descriptive, cross-sectional study, nutritional status was evaluated by using the Mini NutritionalAssessment (MNA) as well as traditional anthropometric measurements independently. Nutrient intake wasdetermined using menu, plate wastage and food acceptability data.The study population consisted of 53 male and 157 female older people with a mean age of 76.8 years (SD10.6). The mean body mass index BMI was 25.6 (SD 5.17). According to the MNA, 6% of the older people weremalnourished, and 47% were at risk for malnutrition. Had the independent anthropometric measurementsbeen used, fewer older people would have been identified as at risk of malnutrition. After correcting for platewastage, the average energy consumption was 6 963 kJ. Nutrient values 50%) were the starchy menu items,cooked vegetables and lunch protein dishes.The MNA is a valuable instrument in identifying older people at risk of malnutrition, thus allowing for earlyintervention. There was a relationship between malnutrition and lower energy intake, emphasising the need for meticulous menu planning and monitoring of food consumption, and the need for addressing specificmicronutrients. ER -