Abstract
Aging is associated with a decline in physiological functions that can affect nutritional status. The present work aimed to investigate the nutritional status and its related factors among institutionalized elderly. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study in social care homes in Makkah region included 53 subjects aged >= 60 years after applied inclusion criteria. Socio-demographic questionnaire, designed especially for older adults and used at all Primary Health Care Centers, Ministry of Health (MOH), Saudi Arabia, was used in this study with some modification. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were assessed. Seven-days estimated dietary intake record (7-DDR) was used to evaluate average intake of macro-and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) intake and its percentage of dietary reference intake (DRI). It showed that, about quarter of the elderly have a normal anthropometric measurements with normal blood pressure, and majority of them have decline in physical health status. An increase in total energy, protein and carbohydrate, paralleled by a decrease in fiber were recorded relative to DRI. Also, deficiencies in vitamins (A, B-6 & D), and minerals (calcium and potassium), accompanied with an increase in sodium were observed relative to DRI. It can be concluded that this study demonstrated that, there was a poor nutritional status among the institutionalized elderly in social care homes. Further research is required to estimate the intervention factors that could prevent or delay the regression in the nutritional status among this vulnerable group and improve their quality of life.