None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Approximately 40 % of elderly persons in South Australia are 'at risk' or are malnourished, and health service providers such as 'Meals On Wheels' offer elderly persons in the community a service which delivers nutritional meals to to assist them to live at home in their community for as long as possible. The broad aim of this pilot study is to compare the average amount of nutrients that elderly persons get from their 'Meals on Wheels' three course lunchtime meal to the amount of nutrients health professionals estimate you need for good health. Specifically, we would like to find out: 1) whether or not you are able to eat all of the food that is delivered each day 2) what things influence how much of the meal you eat 3) what helps or hinders you from eating the full meal and, 4) whether meals fortified with enough energy and protein to meet two-thirds of the an elderly persons estimated daily energy requirements and 100 % of their protein requirements are better than the current 'standard' MOW meal that aim to provide one-third of their energy and 50% of their protein needs, and if both meal types are indeed better than receiving no meal.
Interventions
Thirty eligible elderly individuals who are new clients of Meals on Wheels (SA) and who agree to pay for the MOW service, will be randomly allocated to receive either:
Arm 1 - standard meal (Standard), or
Arm 2 - high protein high energy (HEHP) meal.
The meals will all consist of a soup, main hot dish (i.e. meat/fish and vegetables, or casserole), and dessert which will be delivered at lunchtime.
The prescribed 'Standard' meal will provide 30 % of the target population's daily estimated requ
Thirty eligible elderly individuals who are new clients of Meals on Wheels (SA) and who agree to pay for the MOW service, will be randomly allocated to receive either: Arm 1 - standard meal (Standard), or Arm 2 - high protein high energy (HEHP) meal. The meals will all consist of a soup, main hot dish (i.e. meat/fish and vegetables, or casserole), and dessert which will be delivered at lunchtime. The prescribed 'Standard' meal will provide 30 % of the target population's daily estimated requirements for energy and 50 % for protein. In addition, it will provide at least 30 % of all other nutrients. The prescribed macronutrient composition will be 2.5 MJ energy, 32 g of protein, 23 g fat 65 g carbohydrate. The prescribed 'HEHP' meal will provide 65 % of the target population's daily estimated requirements for energy and 100 % for protein (daily estimated protein requirements are based on the current reccomendation of ~0.8-1 g per kg of body weight). The prescribed macronutrient composition will be 5 MJ energy, 65 g of protein, 65 g fat 99 g carbohydrate. Each subject will be asked to consume their allocate meal type five days per week for 12 weeks.
Sponsors
Dr Natalie Luscombe-Marsh
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
75 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1) Must be a new referrals to the 'MOW' service in South Australia 2) Must be ‘at risk’ from poor nutrition according to MOW(SA)Inc. criteria which are: staff/doctorcarer or client themselves percieves client as underweight/frail; has self-reported a reduced appetite or unintentional weight loss over the past year; or is unable to shop or prepare food for self. 3) Must be aged 75 years, or greater 4) Must have the cognitive capacity to consent to study, and complete study assessments, by themselves 5) Must have the functional capacity to complete all assessments
Exclusion criteria
Elderly people who have been reffered to MOW but who have been identified by their GP or MOW assessment team, as having: 1) significant dementia, or short- or long-term memory loss, 2) significant depression, 3) too frail to complete all assessments
Outcome results
None listed