Nutrition concerns of low-income elderly women and related social support.

摘要

The objectives of this study were to ascertain what low-income, older adults who live in government-assisted housing perceived as barriers to good nutrition and to delineate the types of support they found helpful in overcoming those barriers. Fourfocus groups (n=35) and 12 in-depth interviews were conducted with widows, age 75-90 years. All discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and content analysed following all interpretivist approach. The women described 17 sources of stress related to nutrition. The most common were limited finances, modified diets, transportation, functional impairments, and depressed affect. Most participants reported little support for financial difficulties or mental health. The women described instrumental support for help with food acquisition, and informational and emotional support for help following modified diets. Nutrition programmes should re-examine and perhaps re-focus objectives to better match the perceptions of elders regarding nutrition stress and nutrition support.