Pembentukan Panduan Pemakanan ‘Right Diet 4 Senior’ dan Tahap Penerimaannya dalam Kalangan Warga Emas di Mukim Beranang, Selangor (Development and Evaluation of Menu and Therapeutic Diet Guideline ‘Right Diet 4 Senior’ among Older Adults and Their Caregivers in Rural Area of Malaysia) / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

ABSTRACT

@#Older adults often had multiple non-communicable diseases (NCD) that will increase the risk of malnutrition. This study aimed to determine the health and nutrition status of the older adults residing in a rural area of Malaysia in Beranang, Selangor and to develop a nutrition guideline for older adults in community. This study involved two phases that includes need assessment (phase 1) and development of nutrition guideline and acceptance evaluation phase (phase 2). A total of 36 older adults were conveniently recruited for the need assessment phase in obtaining sociodemographic, health and nutrition status data. Results from phase 1 shows that 66.7% of older adults were diagnosed with a minimum one NCD, mainly hypertension (50%) and diabetes mellitus (27.8%). Food history showed that the older adults did not meet their requirement for energy, fat, folate, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc and potassium. They also did not meet the requirement of serving size for fruits, vegetables, legumes, milk and milk products. Therefore, a nutrition guideline and diet therapeutic menu focuses on diabetes mellitus and hypertension has been developed for older adults and the caregivers. Evaluation of acceptance of the content of the guideline involved caregivers (n=20) and health professionals (n=7). A total of 85% caregivers agreed that the content was easy to understand, however, a few modifications must be done to attract and increase understanding towards the contents of the guideline. Professionals agreed that the addition of pictures, illustration and colours can help to transfer the information more effectively and more acceptable by caregivers and older adults. In conclusion, half of the older adults in this particular rural area have NCD and did not meet requirement for several macronutrients and micronutrients and serving size of fruits, vegetables, legumes and milk and milk products. Thus, a guideline for menu and therapeutic diet (Right Diet for Senior) was developed and was well accepted by the caregivers and health professionals.