Retirement Home Residents Research Articles

Effect of flavor enhancement of foods for the elderly on nutritional status: Food intake, biochemical indices, and anthropometric measures

The irreversible declines in taste and smell acuity that occur in many elderly persons can contribute to inadequate food intake and nutrition that are prevalent among the aged. Although chemosensory deficits cannot be reversed, previous studies have shown that the addition of intense flavors to foods can compensate for perceptual losses and improve food palatability and acceptance. In this study, the effect of sustained (3 week) flavor enhancement of typical institutional foods on the diet, health, and well being of 39 elderly (average age 84.6 SE 0.81 years) retirement-home residents was evaluated. For 3 weeks subjects ate an institutional diet (unenhanced). During another 3-week period, the same subjects ate identical foods to which intense flavors were added (enhanced). The 39 subjects were tested in two groups. For group 1 the unenhanced food period preceded the enhanced food period. For group 2, the order was reversed. Food intake was measured every weekday throughout the study, and the nutritional composition of the diet was analyzed. Biochemical measures of health status were obtained at the beginning of the study (baseline) and following both the unenhanced and enhanced periods. These measures included somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I, transferrin, total T- and B-lymphocytes, and routine blood chemistries. Weight, height, midarm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness were also measured. Handgrip strength and pinch strength were measured in group 1. Three major findings emerged from this study: 1) elderly persons ate more food when it was flavor enhanced, 2) consumption of flavor-enhanced food was associated with improved immune function that was not attributable to altered nutrient intake or biochemical status, and 3) improved grip strength in both hands was evident after 3 weeks' consumption of flavor-enhanced foods.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT THE SEXUALITY OF OLDER ADULTS AMONG RETIREMENT HOME RESIDENTS

In this study I used a questionnaire to determine the knowledge and attitudes about the sexuality of older adults held by well elderly people living in an Iowa retirement home (n – 133); I compared their knowledge and attitude scores with test norms and with a comparison group of Iowa university students (n – 133). I also explored what demographic factors affected knowledge and attitude scores. General attitudes of both retirees and students toward the sexuality of the elderly were very positive, but their attitudes toward specific sexual behaviors were less positive. Retirement home residents had less knowledge and less positive attitudes about the sexuality of older adults than did university students. There was a correlation between greater knowledge and more positive attitudes. I conclude that older adults need more in‐depth education about their sexuality and sexual functioning.

Photographic enlargement of printed music: technique, application, and implications.

A need for enlargement of music became critical when retirement home residents were deprived of a self-fulfillment opportunity from participation in formal choir activities due to failing eyesight. A photographic process detailed here was found to yield the needed feasible large reproductions. Innovative application of this technique to open new avenues for the visually sensory impaired elderly affords wide-ranging potential for positive benefit beyond music application.

Change in significant other relationship and life satisfaction in the aged.

Changes in the choice of significant others from pre- to postinstitutionalization were examined in relation to life satisfaction in a population of well-aged retirement home residents. A total of fifty-nine residents, both male and female, ranging in age from 69 to 101 placed in three groups based on length of residence (Group 1 - up to 2 years, Group 2 - 3 to 8 years and Group 3 - 9 to 17 years), and asked to indicate whether a relative, or friend was most important to them at both pre- and postinstitutionalization. Reported preferences were examined in relation to subject scores on the Life Satisfaction Index - A (LSI-A). Significant changes in reported preferences, from pre- to postinstitutionalization were found only in Group 3, with the shift being away from relatives. LSI-A score differences between the groups were significant, only in the Group 1 vs 3 comparison. Analysis of LSI-A scores for residents who changed vs those who did not change pre- to postpreferences produced significant differences within the three groups with change individuals achieving higher scores in Groups 2 and 3. It was concluded that a shift in significant relationships away from the family may be an important factor in successful adjustment to a retirement home.

Long-term effects of control and predictability-enhancing interventions: findings and ethical issues.

The long-term effects of participating in a field experiment on the effects of control and predictability-enhancing interventions are reported. Retirement home residents who had initially benefited from being exposed to a specific positive predictable or controllable event were assessed at three different intervals after the study was terminated. Health and psychological status data collected 24, 30, and 42 months after the study was terminated indicated no positive long-term effects attributable to the interventions. In fact, groups that had initially benefited from the interventions exhibited precipitous declines once the study was terminated, whereas groups that had not benefited remained stable over time. The theoretical and ethical implications of these data are discussed.