Determinants of a low protein intake in the institutionalized elderly people

Ageing is associated with several physiological, sensory, psychological and sociological changes that may have a negative impact on food intake and nutritional status in the elderly population. This situation is particularly worrying in nursing homes where a large majority of elderly people does not satisfy caloric and protein requirements, notably because of insufficient consumption of protein dishes at lunch or at dinner. 24-hr dietary records carried out in several nursing homes showed that 83 % of elderly people did not cover their caloric and protein needs (43 % had a caloric and/or protein intake lower than 2/3 of the Daily Recommended Allowance). Sustaining protein intake and meat consumption in institutions have to face the elderly's beliefs (''At my age, I no longer need to eat so much meat!''), but also the difficult challenge of providing good quality protein dishes in catering services (seasoning, cooking, control of temperature...). (C) 2019 Societe francaise de nutrition. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.