Various Factors Influence the Eating Habits of Old-old Elderly Individuals Living Alone

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the various factors influencing the eating habits of the old-old elderly living alone in a local community.
Method: Between July and August 2010, one of the authors visited the homes of 20 old-old elderly individuals who were living alone (7 men, 13 women; age range, 76~96 years) in the S District of Sendai City. A semi-structured interview was conducted to obtain information on basic attributes and factors related to eating habits. Numerical data were divided into an independent group (12 individuals) and a primary nursing care support-dependent group (8 individuals) and then aggregated; subsequently, statistical analysis was performed. The opinions, desires, and ideas that were elucidated were classified according to the KJ method, a classification technique devised by Kawakita, and then analyzed.
Results: In both groups, the percentage of those who prepared their own meals was high. When comparing “home meal purchases,” “consumption of takeaways,” “consumption of catering service meals,” and “consumption of home-delivered lunch boxes,” a significant difference was noted between the groups only in terms of “consumption of home-delivered lunch boxes” (independent group, 0%; primary nursing care support-dependent group, 50.0%; p=0.014). An analysis of the qualitative data, revealed that the following factors influenced the subjects' current eating habits: “habit of preparing food acquired when young” (independent group, 91.7%; primary nursing care support-dependent group, 87.5%), “use of public transport to purchase foodstuffs” (58.3% vs. 12.5%; p=0.070), “use of delivery services to purchase foodstuffs” (16.7% vs. 37.5%), “support from family and relatives” (8.3% vs. 12.5%), and “community support and cooperation” (100% for both groups).
Conclusion: In order for the old-old elderly to continue living alone in the local community, they need to learn certain cooking techniques, have access to an environment where they can purchase foodstuffs, and receive community support and cooperation.