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.

Objectives: Evaluate the effect of Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) on dietary intakes of frail elderly.

Design: 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.