Assessing the Relevance of Educating the Elderly on Their Feeding Pattern and Food Security in Municipality

Abstract

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to food and food security due to their reduced income and physical capabilities, as well as increased rate of chronic diseases, which predispose them to hardship and poverty. The study sought to assess the feeding habits and challenges of the elderly people in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (K.E.E.A.) Municipality in The Central Region of Ghana. It also aimed at examining the eating pattern of the elderly, factors affecting the feeding habit of the elderly, roles of caregivers to the elderly, and satisfaction of the elderly with the level of care given to them in their feeding. The study adopted cross sectional, non-interventional and descriptive research design. Snowball sampling technique was used to sample 100 elderly and 100 care givers from a population of 6,315. Interview was used to solicit for information from the focus group. The study revealed that income, poverty, commitment of caregivers and ignorance of nutrient values in food limited the ability of the elderly to adopt improved feeding habit. Due to these factors, majority of the elderly were not able to adopt regular eating style, and eat the recommended three regular meals per day. Some of the challenges encountered by the care givers were erratic flow of remittance, having weak strength to continue providing caregivers support and bearing the high cost of caring for the elderly. The study recommends that frantic efforts should be made by stakeholders in K.E.E.A. Municipality to help improve the general standards of living of the elderly in the Municipality. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) caring for the aged and The Social Welfare Department in the K.E.E.A. Municipality should provide social, technical, and material support to the elderly. The Government of the Republic of Ghana Should increase the LEAP funds meant for the vulnerable aged. Guidance and Counselling professionals should extend their community services and social supports to the elderly in K.E.E.A. Municipality and their caregivers.

Keywords:Nutrition, octogenarians, dependent, caregivers, premature, vulnerable, feeding, elderly persons, eating pattern, infections.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-10-05

Publication date: April 30^th 2021