MALNUTRITION IN ELDERLY

Cilj: Cilj istraživanja je bio ispitati koliki je rizik za pojavu pothranjenosti u osoba starije životne dobi smještenih u Dom za starije i nemoćne osobe. Nadalje, pokušala se dokazati ili opovrgnuti veza između pokretljivosti ispitanika i ukupnog rezultata testa. Metode: Metoda istraživanja je bio MNA upitnik (Mali prehrambeni upitnik) koji je mjerni instrument pothranjenosti posebno razvijen za osobe starije životne dobi, a sadrži 18 pitanja. Istraživanje je provedeno u Domu za starije i nemoćne osobe u Požegi (N = 100). Rezultati: Rezultati MNA upitnika su pokazali da je 25 od 100 ispitanika bilo pothranjeno (25%), 38 ispitanika je imalo rizik za razvoj pothranjenosti (38%), a 37 ispitanika je bilo dobro uhranjeno (37%). Statistički je dokazano da pokretljivost ispitanika utječe na rezultate MNA testa. Od 32 potpuno nepokretna ispitanika, njih 20 je bilo pothranjeno, 12 ih je imalo rizik za razvoj pothranjenosti, a niti jedan nepokretni ispitanik nije bio dobro uhranjen. Zaključak: Pothranjenost je česta u osoba starije životne dobi, bilo da žive sami u zajednici, u svojim obiteljima, domovima za starije i nemoćne osobe, ili da su hospitalizirane. U prepoznavanju, dijagnosticiranju i liječenju pothranjenosti potreban je multidisciplinaran pristup u koji trebaju biti uključeni liječnici, medicinske sestre, dijetetičari i ostali pružatelji zdravstvene skrbi. Zdravstveni djelatnici moraju razviti stav da je pravilna prehrana važan i neizostavan korak u liječenju i podizanju kvalitete života u starijih osoba, te tu spoznaju prenijeti oboljeloj osobi i njegovoj obitelji.Aim: The objective of the study was to examine the risk of malnutrition for older persons that had been placed in the residential care home for the older and disabled people. Furthermore, it tried to prove or disprovethe link between mobility of respondent sand total test results. Methods: The research method was MNA questionnaire (concise food habits questionnaire), a malnutrition measuring instrument specially developed for the older people that contains 18 questions. The studywasconductedinthe Home for theolderanddisabledpeoplein Požega, Croatia (N = 100). Results: Resultsof MNA questionnaire showe dthat 25 of 100 respondent ssuffered from malnutrition (25 %), 38 patients had a risk of developing malnutrition (38 %) and 37 subjects werewell-fed (37 %). It was statistically proventh at mobility of patients affectsthe results of the MNA test. Outof 32 completely immobile patients, 20 of the mwereunder weight, 12 oft hemhad a risk of malnutrition, andnot a single one immobile respondent was well-fed. Conclusion: Malnutrition is common among older people, whether they live alone, with their families, inresidential care homes for the older and disabled persons, or they are hospitalised. Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition require a multidisciplinary approach that should include doctors, nurses, dieti- 8 Sažeci radova / Abstracts tiansan dotherhealthcare providers. Health care professionals need to develop the awareness that proper nutrition is an important and essential step in healing and transfer that knowledge to the patient and their family