Using the Social Ecological Model to Identify Drivers of Nutrition Risk in Adult Day Settings Serving East Asian Older Adults.
Tina R Sadarangani, Jordan J Johnson, Stella K Chong and 2 others
PMID 31834413WHAT IT FOUND
East Asian older adults described eating more when meals were familiar and peers encouraged them.
Staff noted language, cognition, swallowing, medication, and family barriers.
Key findings
01RNs and the registered dietician said poor mental health needed addressing before nutrition interventions, and RNs contacted physicians when medications reduced appetite.
02Poor oral health, swallowing problems, choking, and unappetizing pureed foods limited eating, and users with swallowing issues needed individual mealtime assistance.
03Peer encouragement was described as more effective than staff encouragement, and culturally tailored menus provided familiarity and were described as important for attendance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 13 people were interviewed, and they came from two centers serving Chinese and Vietnamese older adults, so the findings may not fit other settings or ethnic groups. The study was qualitative and did not test whether any nutrition, exercise, mealtime, or policy change worked. The centers did not represent all adult day settings, because meal service capacity varied, such as presence of an onsite kitchen. Findings were organized by the Social Ecological Model, so factors outside that model may be missing. Because the centers predominantly served East Asian older adults, the findings may not apply to more heterogeneous adult day settings.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that culturally familiar meals, peer encouragement, exercise, or nurse actions improve nutrition. The study interviewed 13 people at two centers and reported what participants said. It did not test outcomes.