NUTRITION OF OLD-PEOPLE IN SHELTERED HOUSING

Two hundred and thirty-five sheltered housing tenants (59 men and 176 women) were investigated by using the 24-h dietary recall and checklis t devised by the Nutrition Advisory Group on the Elderly (NAGE) to est imate their energy and nutrient intakes, and by measuring their body w eight and demi-span to calculate ratios of weight to demi-span. Sixty seven per cent had energy intakes below the mean previously recorded i n a national survey of old people living at home, but most had an adeq uate intake of protein, while, in 44%, the proportion of energy consum ed as fat exceeded 35%. For most nutrients, few tenants had intakes be low the lower recommended nutrient intake (LRNI). Exceptions were that there were 64% with pyridoxine intakes and 63% with vitamin D intakes below this level. Only 18% of men but 74% of women had weight to demi -span ratios below the means recorded in elderly people living at home in another recent survey. There was no correlation between these anth ropometric ratios and energy intakes.