Meals-on-wheels improves energy and nutrient intake in a frail free-living elderly population

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.

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

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.

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.

MOW programs improve dietary intakes of recipients. However, a more intensive intervention is needed to prevent nutrient deficiencies in this group.