Nutritional Situation of Older Adults Living in German Speaking Countries

The older population shows heterogeneity regarding health status and functional resources. Correspondingly, the nutritional situation differs between selected subgroups of older adults. This overview contrasts descriptive data on nutrition of four subgroups of older adults living in different settings (independent living older adults, recipients of home care, nursing home residents, and geriatric patients). The work focuses on prevalence data of malnutrition, overweight and obesity, the frequency of nutritional problems (loss of appetite, chewing or swallowing disorders, needing help with eating), and the fluid intake of older people. The prevalence of malnutrition systematically increases with the morbidity level of the study population, correspondingly the rates of overweight and obesity decrease. No corresponding trends were visible regarding nutritional problems, as studies are inhomogeneous concerning methodological approaches. Regarding the fluid intake of older people in the German speaking countries insufficient data are available to make a comparison between different settings. The numerous studies in the past fifteen years have advanced the knowledge about the nutritional situation of older adults living in German speaking countries. The studies indicate the need to consider the nutritional status of older adults in the daily treatment routines. Future studies on the nutritional situation of older adults should aim at systematic comparisons of settings to derive specific risk profiles of single subgroups of older people in order to establish adequate prevention and intervention strategies.