Frailty and Nutrition Risk Predict Falls and Emergency Department Visits in Home-Delivered Meal Clients

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Home-delivered meal programs enhance health for homebound seniors.
• Some clients require additional support to maintain independence.
• Identifying high-risk individuals is crucial for effective service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify program clients at the highest risk for adverse outcomes.
• To assess the predictive value of nutrition risk and Frailty Index scores.
• To inform service providers for prioritizing additional support.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nutrition risk and Frailty Index scores.
• Collected data on falls, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.
• Employed multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis for 258 Meals on Wheels clients.

Main Results:

• Nutrition risk and Frailty Index scores predicted falls (13.2% variation) and emergency department visits (22% variation).
• Neither score predicted hospitalizations.
• Combined scores provided a more comprehensive risk assessment than individual scores.

Conclusions:

• Nutrition risk and Frailty Index scores are valuable tools for identifying at-risk older adults in meal programs.
• These scores can guide service providers in allocating resources and support effectively.
• Integrated assessment enhances the ability to support client independence and well-being.