Eating problems are common among older home care patients, study shows

Nearly 30 per cent of the 250 patients studied reported poor appetite, whilst 20 per cent had problems with chewing, 14 per cent had problems with swallowing, and nearly 20 per cent reported eating problems related to teeth or dentures.

The study constitutes part of the Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) study at the University of Eastern Finland, and the findings were reported in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research.

The study sample included 250 patients aged 75 and older, living in the eastern part of Finland. The participants were interviewed in their home by their own home care nurse as well as by a clinical nutritionist, a pharmacist, and a dental hygienist. The study examined the prevalence and determinants of eating problems when screened by a clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist.