Determinants of a low protein intake in the institutionalized elderly people

Abstract

Ageing is associated with several physiological, sensory, psychological and sociological changes that may have a negative impact on food intake and nutritional status in the elderly population. This situation is particularly worrying in nursing homes where a large majority of elderly people does not satisfy caloric and protein requirements, notably because of insufficient consumption of protein dishes at lunch or at dinner. 24-hr dietary records carried out in several nursing homes showed that 83 % of elderly people did not cover their caloric and protein needs (43 % had a caloric and/or protein intake lower than 2/3 of the Daily Recommended Allowance). Sustaining protein intake and meat consumption in institutions have to face the elderly's beliefs (“At my age, I no longer need to eat so much meat!”), but also the difficult challenge of providing good quality protein dishes in catering services (seasoning, cooking, control of temperature…).