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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE MEAN NUTRIENT INTAKES OF VARIOUS POPULATION GROUPS OF THE ELDERLY IN SASKATOON

Date

1978

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

ORCID

Type

Degree Level

Masters

Abstract

This survey was conducted in order to examine the dietary adequacy of three different support systems for single elderly people living alone in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. One hundred and twenty people over the age of 65 were selected from the Alliance of Youth and the Elderly, Meals on Wheels, and the Sherbrooke Community Center. The Alliance of Youth and the Elderly helps to repair and maintain the homes of the elderly, but does not provide meal service. Meals on Wheels provides one hot meal each weekday while the Sherbrooke Community Center provides all meals and snacks. Food consumption of subjects was recorded using the 24-hour dietary recall method. Exact quantities of food consumed were determined with the aid of food models. Socio-economic and demographic data for each individual were entered on a questionnaire, and all data were coded for computer analysis. Computer analysis utilized food composition data from the Handbook of The Nutritional Contents of Foods, U.S.D.A. No. 8, and printed out the daily intake of calories, protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin for each individual. The effects of socio-economic and demographic variables on the caloric and nutrient intakes of the elderly subjects were determined with the analysis of variance. Adequacy of diet for the three support systems of the elderly was assessed by comparison with the recommendations made in the 1976 edition of Dietary Standard for Canada. Results of this survey indicated that elderly males and females in the Alliance of Youth and the Elderly and Meals on Wheels met Canadian recommended levels for calories and all nutrients. Males in the Sherbrooke Community Center did not meet recommended levels of intake for thiamine while females in the Sherbrooke Community Center exceeded recommended levels of intake for calories. Protein intakes for all subjects were affected by differences in age and sex. Protein, calcium and vitamin A intakes of all subjects were affected by differences in the type of support program. Results of this survey suggest that elderly males and females living alone at home and receiving help from the community can adequately meet their nutritional needs.

Description

Keywords

Adequacy of diet, elderly people

Citation

Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Department

Home Economics

Program

Advisor

Part Of

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DOI

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