Nutrition education for care staff and possible effects on nutritional status in residents of sheltered accommodation

We investigated the nutritional, cognitive and functional status in residents of two service-flat (SF) complexes and the effects of a nutrition education programme for care staff.

Controlled nonrandomised study.

Two SF complexes, that is community-assisted accommodation.

Of 115 eligible SF residents, 80 subjects participated (age 83+/-7 y, 70% women).

The nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), subjective global assessment (SGA), serum concentrations of albumin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and vitamin B(12). Cognitive and functional status were evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE, 0-30 points, <24 points indicates impaired cognition) and the Katz activities of daily living (ADL) index, respectively. Two assessments were made with a 5-month interval. At the start, a 12-h education programme was given to the staff at one of the SF complexes.

At baseline, the means of BMI and the biochemical nutritional indices were normal, whereas one-third had BMI <22 kg/m(2) and one-fourth had lost > or =10% of previous weight. According to SGA, 30% demonstrated possible or serious malnutrition. The median MMSE was 23 points (19.5-26.5, 25-75th percentile). Nearly 70% were ADL-independent. At the 5-month follow-up there were no differences in the nutritional and cognitive status of the residents. The nutritional knowledge of the staff improved slightly (P<0.05) at both SF complexes (NS between groups).

Around one-third of SF residents appeared to be at nutritional risk. Five months after a 12-h staff nutrition education programme, no objective changes were seen in the nutritional status of the SF residents.