The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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J Nutr Health Aging · Mar 2011
Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis and Mini Nutritional Assessment in elderly nursing home residents.
The aim of this study was to establish the presence of malnutrition in elderly institutionalized people through Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores and to observe the changes of nutritional status through the Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA). ⋯ A routine assessment of nutritional status through BIVA analysis combined with more "traditional" tools like the MNA could be useful for recognizing malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition in the elderly as these instruments provide complete information and are easy to use even with heavily impaired subjects.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Feb 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRandomised active programs on healthcare workers' flu vaccination in geriatric health care settings in France: the VESTA study.
Because of a lack of efficacy of influenza vaccination in elderly population, there are still numerous outbreaks in geriatric health care settings. The health care workers (HCW) flu vaccination is known to get herd immunity and decrease the impact of influenza in elderly population living in geriatric health care settings. However, the rates of vaccinated HCWs are still low in France. The French Geriatric Infection Risk Institute (ORIG) performed the VESTA study, a three-phase multicentre to identify factors limiting vaccination in HCWs, and to develop and implement active programs promoting HCWs influenza vaccination. ⋯ In geriatric health care centres in France, an active multicenter program giving personal satisfaction and taking into account the profile of non-vaccinated HCWs was more effective in promoting flu vaccination than a scientifically factual information program. HCW involvement is required in program implementation in order to avoid rejection of top-down information.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyNutritional status and health care costs for the elderly living in municipal residential homes--an intervention study.
The aim was to study the effect of individualised meals on nutritional status among older people living in municipal residential homes and to compare the results with a control group. An additional aim was to estimate direct health care costs for both groups. ⋯ With improved knowledge the staff could offer the elderly more individualised meals. One of their future challenges is to recognise and assess nutritional status among this group. If malnutrition could be prevented health care costs should be reduced.
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The main aim of this paper is to give an overview on the quality of life, health care utilisation and costs of dementia in Hungary. ⋯ This is the first study investigating resource utilisation, costs, and quality of life of dementia patients in the Central and Eastern European region. Compared to the general population of Hungary EQ-5D values of the demented patients are lower in all age groups. Dementia related costs are much lower in Hungary compared to Western European countries. There is no remarkable difference between the costs of demented patients living at home and in nursing homes, from the societal point of view.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jun 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialImproved nutrient intake in older obese adults undergoing a structured diet and exercise intentional weight loss program.
Physicians are often reluctant to advise older obese patients to lose weight for fear of compromised nutrition and excessive loss of muscle mass and strength, all of which may lead to a loss of independence and accelerate disability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine nutrient intake in older obese adults undergoing a weight loss intervention. ⋯ A nutrition intervention to promote weight loss in older obese adults was achieved using PMR as a primary strategy. Diet quality was improved for WL vs. WS in using the nutrient fortified product, even with a reduction in total energy intake.