Nutritional status of Korean elderly with dementia in a long-term care facility in Hongseong

This study investigated nutritional status of the elderly with dementia in a care facility with the aim of improving the meal quality of the facility.

Data were collected from 30 dementia patients aged more than 65 years in a long-term care facility in Hongseong. The data were obtained from questionnaires and medical records. The food intake data was obtained using food photographs and the nutrient intakes were calculated using the CAN-Pro 5.0. The data were compared with the dietary reference intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). The nutrient density, diet quality such as nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ), as well as dietary diversity score (DDS) were evaluated. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical programs.

The average daily energy intakes for men and women were much lower than the estimated energy requirements of the KDRIs. The average intakes of energy and most nutrients in the general diet group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups. Significant differences in diet quality and diet diversity were observed according to the meal type groups. The NARs of some minerals (calcium, iron, and zinc) and vitamins (vitamin B6 and folic acid) were less than 0.5 in all study groups. The NARs of protein, iron and MAR of the general diet group were significantly higher than those of the liquid diet group. The DDS scores of meats, fruits and diary food group were very low in all meal type groups, meaning that the diet qualities of the study subjects were not appropriate in all meal type groups.

The food intakes of the study groups showed some limitations by a direct comparison with KDRIs because of the very low physical activities of the study subjects. The diet quality and diet diversity indices suggest the need for improvements in the nutritional quality in all types of diet. Overall, new intervention strategies targeting facility residents with dementia in Korea are needed as soon as possible.