This research examines nutritional concepts as these concepts apply to elderly persons. The focus group among the elderly segment of the population is comprised of ambulatory persons residing on an independent basis. The focus group is further defined as predominantly middle-class with convenient access to retail shopping within an urban area with a total population approximating 40,000. The focus group is also largely comprised of females who like to cook and who generally eat alone. Members of the focus group also consume meals away from home an average of three-to-four times per week.
Of particular interest in this research are nutritional requirements for elderly persons afflicted with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes. Diseases most frequently affecting the elderly population are heart and circulatory problems, cancers, diabetes, pneumonia, and arthritis (Sabin, 1993, pp. 97-114). The leading causes of death among this population group are the diseases of the heart and circulatory group which are associated with both elevated blood pressure levels and elevated cholesterol levels.
There is a general concern in the United States with respect to high levels of malnutrition among the elderly population segment (Cope, 1994, pp. 29-34). Malnutrition is considered to be a major risk for morbidity and mortality among elderly persons (Mion, McDowell, and Heaney, 1994, pp. 46-51). The prevalence of malnutrition among independently-living elderly persons is estimated to range as high as 51 percent (Mion, McDowell, and Heaney, 1994, pp. 46-51). Elderly persons generally are the largest demographic group at risk for nutrition disorders (Tonore and Bivona, 1992, pp. 40-46).
Malnutrition among elderly persons is recognized as a problem that involves physical, physiological, psychosocial, and economic factors (Mion, McDowell, and Heaney, 1994, pp. 46-51). Aging persons ten...