Assessment of the nutritional status of residents in homes for the elderly in Lattakia, Syrian Arab Republic

Malnutrition is common among residents of homes for the elderly. This study aimed to identify the nutritional status of people in residential homes for the elderly in Lattakia, Syrian Arab Republic, and to determine the factors that affected nutritional status in these homes. A total of 103 elderly people in 3 residential homes were interviewed individually using an Arabic version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] scale, and anthropometric measurements were carried out to assess nutritional status. The mean age was 70.9 [SD 6.4] years. Two-thirds of residents were either at risk of malnutrition [39.8%; score 17-23 on the MNA] or malnourished [19.4%; score < 17 on the MNA]. Mean body mass index was 22.0 [SD 4.7] kg/m2. Nutritional status was significantly affected by age, level of education, source of income, duration of stay in the home, number of diseases, number of medicines taken, anthropometric data and teeth and vision problems

Activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, Egypt

To identify activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, we carried out a study on 188 elderly persons in 4 homes [2 governmental and 2 private]. Participants were interviewed individually using a structured interview schedule. Each home was visited daily for 1 week in order to assess the type of activities provided and the participation. Performance of activities was affected by health status, functional ability, lifestyle pattern [including individual practices and personal choices related to health and health risk] and type of home. Private homes, having more resources available, particularly financial resources, tended to involve their residents in physical and social activities more than governmental ones. The majority of the residents tended to be inactive