This study was designed to evaluate
health and
nutritional status of
elderly females according to their
family type. The participants were 157
elderly women (41
living alone, 45 living with a
spouse, and 71 living with
family). Among them, the subjects answered that their
health rated as good condition, the
elderly living with a
spouse had significantly higher proportions than those
living alone and living with
family.
Serum cholesterol and
fasting blood glucose of the
respondents living with a
spouse were lower than those of the
respondents living alone or with
family. A dietary assessment with a 24-hour recall
method represented that the
elderly living alone had lower
nutrient intakes, especially the intake of Ca. Most of
women living alone or with
family were consuming less than 75% of the Korean
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). For the
females living with a
spouse, the number of
nutrients consumed below 75% of the Korean RDA were significantly lower than that for those
living alone and the
elderly living with
family. As a result of the above
analysis, the
health and nutritional statement of old
women with a
spouse was better than that of the old
living alone or with
family.