What have social constructs got to do with nutrition risk?

Posted on 06 November 2017 | Posted in News | Author: Rebecca Watkin

The concept of an ageing population emanated throughout many of the presentations and workshops delivered at the 2017 Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Conference, which I attended just a few weeks ago in Perth. The title, ‘Ageing: The Golden Opportunity’ put a really positive spin on the fact that in the upcoming years, the world will be facing the tough demand of meeting the needs of an ageing population.

The conference covered a vast range of topics related to the health of older people, which made it very difficult to choose what to share with you. However, I’ve selected one of my key learnings, which is the “social health” of older people, a key point to consider when we are thinking about nutrition risk.

Social constructs play a key role in nutritional wellbeing. Joyce Siette from Macquarie University spoke on her research around social engagement instruments and person-centred community aged care services. She discussed the relationship between loneliness and social isolation and how they can predict declining health and poor quality of life. Joyce’s research involved the use of screening tools with community care clients to investigate community participation. Asking social questions enabled care workers to support the clients to access social services. The questionnaire identified clients who wanted to contribute to the community more, services were put in place, and one year later the client reported increased wellbeing and increased friends and community.

Now, you might ask how this relates to nutrition risk?

New Zealand research showed an increase in nutrition risk in community dwelling older New Zealanders who lived alone, compared to those who lived with others (Wham, Teh, Robinson, & Kerse, 2011).

A reduction in social networks or interactions in older adults can lead to a reduced motivation to eat and consequently can contribute to nutrition risk (Donini, Savina, & Cannella, 2003).

So what can you do to help change this?

While we likely wouldn’t utilise survey tools when talking to older people to assess their social situation and its possible impact on their nutrition risk status, perhaps all it would take is a couple of simple questions.

Do they live alone?

Do they meet with their friends for meals?

Do they go the dining hall at their retirement village for lunch?

These types of questions could help to identify whether an individual’s social connectedness or social isolation could be contributing to their nutrition risk status. And it’s not just asking the questions to tick the box; it’s acting on them.

Suggestions around sharing meals with family, eating in the dining room at the retirement village instead of alone in their room, or going out for a meal with friends might just be the simple suggestion that the older person needs to help optimise their nutrition status.

While the AAG Conference filled me with excitement and huge ideas for the future, it’s small things, such as this, that have had the most significant impact on me as to how I think and work as a clinician. It has enabled me to think about an older person far more holistically. So, before we jump straight into modifying an older person’s diet for example, we should pause and consider the wider picture of what might be going on for that particular older person.

References

Donini, L. M., Savina, C., & Cannella, C. (2003). Eating habits and appetite control in the elderly: the anorexia of aging. International Psychogeriatrics / IPA, 15(1), 73-87.

Statistics New Zealand. (2007). New Zealand's 65+ Population: A statistical volume. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand.

Wham, C., Teh, R., Robinson, M., & Kerse, N. (2011). What is associated with nutrition risk in very old age? Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 15(4), 247-251.