How to Assess the Diets of Older Adults

Thirteen percent of adults in the United States are over the age of 65. Many have chronic health conditions that are either aggravated or improved by nutrition and diet. Often the elderly do not consume enough food, or it's handled unsafely, leading to food-borne illness. Determining what older adults eat is not easy if they cannot remember when you ask them direct questions. Conducting thorough assessments may only be possible when they are under supervision. Yet, you can make some determinations in other ways.

Instructions

Assessing Older Adult Nutrition

• 1

  Check the refrigerator and cupboards for the type of foods contained in them. A large quantity of canned soups and pre-packaged foods may indicate they are eating a high-sodium diet, which is not recommended for someone with high blood pressure, for example. Many television dinners in the freezer and no fresh foods or vegetables shows their diet lacks in specific vitamins and minerals. Visit their household at different times of the day, and make observations of how they prepare meals and the leftover dishes from mealtimes.

• 2

  Offer to take older adults grocery shopping and watch what they purchase. When assessing their typical diet, refrain from making suggestions about which foods they buy until you can determine their habits. You may need to go with them shopping several different times to make a reliable assessment of their eating habits. Note in particular the variety of foods they buy. Food variety is linked to healthier eating habits.

• 3

  Visit older adults during mealtimes. Whether this is at their home or in an assisted living facility, you can watch what types of foods they eat, how much of each food, what they seem to like and the overall choices they make. For example; if they refuse to eat a meal at a care facility, observe how this is handled by the staff of the facility. Inspect whether the food looks safely prepared and fit for consuming. Ask questions during mealtimes to find out more about regular patterns of eating, such as: Do you like to eat a banana every day?

• 4

  Conduct an assessment of the older adult's nutrition yourself or with the help of a registered dietician. This includes calculations of body mass index and body fat percentage, perhaps a cholesterol screening, a diet diary to write down every food item eaten, and the specific quantity and time of day eaten. This assessment may also include a physical. Thorough investigation can reveal what the older adult's nutrition is like, but it is still difficult to assess quality of food eaten.