Counselling the elderly on nutrition in a community health care system.

A study was made of the effects of community nutrition services on 234 noninstitutional elderly aged 65 or older. Many of the problems were related to overweight and longstanding inappropriate food habits. The results indicated that counselling can stimulate an increased awareness of nutrition and improvement in the knowledge of nutrition and food selection. These elderly persons seemed to have a definite desire to achieve good health and were receptive to the nutritionist's recommendations. However, economic and physical limitations often influence their ability to adhere to the recommendations. In counselling the elderly, the nutritionist should be able to made a quick assessment of the elderly person's physical capabilities.