Influence of living situation on vulnerable elderly: focus on nutritional status.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the nutritional status of elderly people living in two different settings (shared-housing arrangements and home-living arrangements). DESIGN: For this secondary analysis, a cross-sectional study was performed. SETTING: For the home-living setting, home-dwelling elderly people from Hamburg, Germany who were participants in a prior study were included. For the shared-housing arrangements (SHA) setting, we used baseline data from the WGQual Study. PARTICIPANTS: The sample from the home-living setting comprised patients who were discharged from a geriatric rehabilitation clinic within the six months prior to data collection. The sample from the shared-housing arrangements comprised all residents that lived in SHAs. MEASUREMENTS: Nutritional status was examined by administering the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Cognitive status was measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Overall, 142 individuals participated in this study. Statistical analysis showed differences in both overall MNA scores and MNA assessment scores. Significantly more participants from the SHA setting were at risk of malnutrition compared to the home-living setting. CONCLUSION: Screening and assessment of nutritional status and prevention interventions should be considered in SHA settings.

[Patient education of elderly with mobility impairments : Conception and evaluation of needs during and after release from a geriatric clinic setting]. / Patientenedukation bei älteren Menschen mit Mobilitätseinschränkungen : Konzeption und Evaluation von Bedarfen während und nach der Entlassung aus dem klinisch-geriatrischen Setting.

BACKGROUND: Patient education can contribute to obtaining and maintaining mobility in elderly with mobility impairments. The aim of this study was to evaluate counseling, training, and information needs in elderly patients with mobility impairments before, during, and after a hospital stay in a geriatric clinic. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted. Needs were assessed at admission (t1), after 2 weeks (t2), at discharge (t3), after 3 months (t4), and after 6 months (t5). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: At almost all time points, there was a need of counseling and information. Counseling needs mainly comprised the themes assistive advices, fall prevention, professional nursing care, other services, nutrition, and pain management. Information needs comprised the themes fall prevention, professional nursing care, other services, assistive devices, nutrition, and modification of living space. There was a need of training mainly at admission and at discharge. Training needs comprised approach to assistive devices and mobility facilitation. CONCLUSION: Training should include activities related to mobility, while counseling and information should comprise all areas of life.