TITLE: “NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AMONG OLDER PEOPLE OF HERMANA

FAUSTA DEVELOPMENT CENTER, LUCENA CITY AND ITS

RELATIONSHIP TO PHYSICAL HEALTH STATUS”

Researcher: LOURDES ANGELA A. MANGA, R.N.

Adviser:

Institution: Sacred Heart College

Degree: Master of Science in Nursing

Year Completed: 2010

ABSTRACT
“NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AMONG OLDER PEOPLE OF HERMANA FAUSTA

DEVELOPMENT CENTER, LUCENA CITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO

PHYSICAL HEALTH STATUS”

A Thesis Presented to

The Faculty of the Graduate School

Sacred Heart College

Lucena City

In Partial Fulfillment

For the Degree of

Master of Science in Nursing

LOURDES ANGELA A. MANGA

MARCH 2010
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

Every stage of an individual’s life is profoundly influenced and affected by his

physical health condition. This is true to a great extent although generally given not much

concern. It may only become obvious to be noticed when one gets older and starts

experiencing the toll of paying less attention to his physical health.

In the complex and fast changing world, life is one’s own making. A person’s

health condition so with his activity and performance is very much affected by the food

he eats. Research has shown that nutritional intake produces a variety of correlates and

consequences. There are numerous varied physical health effects and consequences of the

food one eats which can either increase or decrease one’s level of performance, in turn,

bound to reinforce one’s existing physical health status, as the saying goes “You are what

you eat.”

Although nutrition and nutritional intake are much associated with infants and

children in their growing stage, the awareness of proper nutritional intake rises up to the

level of adulthood when one gets conscious of his or her diet and figure, thus, the

proliferation of health and massage clinics, food supplements, and fitness gyms.

But never to be taken for granted are the older people who deserve equal if not

more attention especially that they are past the prime of their life. The more they need

whatever nutritional boost or support his family can provide because it is sometimes

overlooked by the society.

 It is worth noting the fact that older people are more prone to illness and diseases.

Staying physically strong and healthy becomes a problem for a person as he gets older

even more. It even gets more complicated and difficult for him to cope with it when the

issue of economic condition comes in. Lucky is the older person who need not spend for

any single medication or food supplement to meet his daily nutritional needs.

The most recent Social Weather survey pointed out that the number of Filipino

families experiencing problems on foods and nutritional intakes rose to 7.1 million

equivalent to 40 % of Filipino households. A significant number of these households

include the older people. In some provinces, the older people below poverty line number

as high as 50%.

Another study shows that the average Filipino older people has nutritional intakes

that were about 65% of the amount required based on their total energy expenditure.

Five of the 7 micronutrients with dietary intake data (vitamin A vitamin C, calcium,

thiamin, riboflavin) were approximately 1/3 of the recommended nutrient intake for

Filipino elderly. Iron (51%) and niacin (77%) were the exceptions. The dietary intake

was particularly low for vitamins A and C. The percentage niacin intake decreased with

increasing age. Iron intake as a percentage of the recommendations had significant

variability with age, increasing among the young-old and the old-old compared with the

near-old.

Their nutritional and health vulnerability, together with an array of age-related

processes such as body structure changes and physiological and immune functions

alterations make this sector of the population at high risk for malnutrition related

diseases.
 While there are a number of bills pending in both Houses to increase discounts on

transportation, medicines and other services, the urgency of the present time is a program

for appropriate nutritional intakes for these older people especially the poorest of the poor

among them. Although every country in Asia has a social pension for the poor older

people to take care of these concerns, the Philippines does not have any of this kind.

With the present data of 7 million over 60 years old, around 2 million who are the

poorest among them is a significant number that should be given attention not only by the

government but also by the private sectors.

Lucky is the older person who can afford to spend for the food he wants and

needs plus the nutritional food supplements that are affordable to him. But this may not

be true to one who in the later stage of his life is not able to save and prepare himself

physically, emotionally and even more financially to sustain his needs for the rest of his

life.

In this context, the study which follows is an attempt to expound on the topic

nutritional intake and its relationship to physical health status among older people. The

relevance of the study lies in the fact that its purpose is to determine a correlation

between the nutritional intake and physical health among older people from which, the

results will be used as a bases in coming up with a nutritional program that will fit and

benefit them.
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to assess the nutritional intake of the older people of Hermana

Fausta Development Center, Lucena City. Specifically, it aims to answer the following

sub-problems:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of their

a. age

b. physical health condition

2. What are the foods that the older people usually eat in terms of

a. nutritional intake

b. intake pattern

3. Is there a significant relationship between the nutritional intake of the

respondents and their present physical health condition?

4. What is the implication of the output of the study in terms of Physical health

status and nutrition among older people?

Null Hypothesis:

There is no significant relationship between the nutritional intake of the older

people of Hermana Fausta Development Center and their present physical health

condition.
Significance of the Study:

The result of the study would be of much help to the researcher who is intending

to come up with a nutrition program based on the results of the study. The output

nutritional program will be made available by the researcher to the Hermana Fausta

Development Center to supplement its existing program for the older people. This is one

way of sharing the benefits of the output of the research to the older people of Hermana

Development Center who are the subjects of the study thus realizing the researcher’s goal

and purpose in conducting the research.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study focuses on finding out the level of nutritional intake in terms of the

food eaten regularly by the older people of Hermana Fausta Development Center. Using

interviews in gathering data, it will also find out the present health condition of the

respondents from which a test of correlation using the Pearson Product-Moment

Correlation will be used to test if there exists a degree of relationship between the two

variables.

Being an alumna of Sacred Heart College, the researcher gives preference to the

older people of Hermana Fausta Development Center as her respondents. These older

people, 35 of them who are regular members of the Hermana Fausta Development Center

program are the subjects of the study. She chose these older people of Hermana Fausta

Development Center because she believes that the output of this research will be her way
of contributing something useful not only for the program implementation of the center

but most especially for the direct benefit of the older people the center is reaching out to.

Conceptual Paradigm

The conceptual paradigm of this study is supported by the works of Campbell

(1991) which indicates that the physical well-being of a person depends to a great extent

on the regular nutritional intake.

Campbell elaborated a conceptualization of food intake and its consequences

stating that quality of food intake affects health and quality of life directly or indirectly

through nutritional status.

Results of this paper will try to address the fundamental issue of the association

among food intake, nutritional status and health or state of well-being.

Definition of Terms:

The operational definition of the following terms used in this research is

provided in order to clarify each meanings.

Nutrition - The act or process of nourishing or of being nourished.

Nutritional Intake - The amount of nutritional component the patient has

consumed within a specified timescale, exact or estimated.

Physical Health - A strong indicator of the health of localized population is their

height or weight, which generally increases with improved nutrition and health care. This

is also influenced by the standard of living and quality of life.

Food Supplement - A preparation intended to provide nutrients, such as

vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids, that are missing or are not consumed in

sufficient quantity in a person's diet

Older People - A group of people consisting of ages 65-80 years old, male and

female.
CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Related Literature

The first week of October celebrates the Elderly Filipino Week and among the

issues given attention in the celebration is the health concern and the nutritional status of

the older people. As people get older, they become prone to diseases related to old age.

Many old people suffer from heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and even

mental illness. Many of them take several kinds of pills or tablets as medication or

maintenance or as supplement to ensure organ functionality. Lucky are the elders who do

not have to spend for medication or food supplement to meet their daily needs for

important nutrients.

For the older people who are lucky to sustain their daily activities without the

need for these medications and medical nutritional supplements, and those whose

medications are always part of their system, nutritional intake still plays a very important

role in their overall health status. (Sumpo, 2002)

Although nutritional inadequacy represents a potential health threat to the entire

older population, the risk of poor nutrition is greater among some subgroups of

community-living older adults. These include women, minorities, those with limited

income and education, and persons who are homebound. The adequacy of nutrient

intakes and the interplay of individual characteristics and health-related factors with
nutrient intakes among the homebound elderly remain poorly understood. For the rapidly

growing elderly population, the achievement and maintenance of good nutritional status

are critical to health, functioning, and quality of life. As embodied in the national goals of

Healthy People 2010, these outcomes are a high public health priority. Conversely, an

inadequate dietary intake, with associated imbalances of needed nutrients and energy

from food, can increase the vulnerability of the older people to adverse health outcomes.

These include a diminished immune response, longer hospital stays and increased

likelihood of hospital readmission, impairment in physical and cognitive function,

premature institutionalization, and mortality. Underpinning the adequacy of dietary

intake are the availability, preparation, and consumption of an appropriate quality and

quantity of food, which in turn, may be negatively influenced by many factors. These

include multiple medications, burden of disease, social isolation, oral health problems,

difficulty shopping for food or preparing meals, inadequate financial resources,

depression and life stresses, and chemosensory dysfunction. Previous investigations

suggested that one or several individual characteristics such as sex, race, poverty, income,

living arrangement, and education as well as health-related factors like medical

conditions, depression, stress, and vision were associated with nutrient adequacy and low

nutrient intakes. However, many of these studies were limited in evaluating the adequacy

of nutrient intakes among the homebound older people. (Sharkey et. al., 2009)

Studying the relationship between nutritional intake and physical health leads the

researcher to also consider another factor which is part of their interrelationship.

Although emotional status is not directly part of the study, it somehow affects one’s
attitude even to food and eating habits as well as the overall health perception of a person

and vice-versa.

As Helene Hubbard (Health and Home, Aug.2002) stated in her article “The

Upside of Depression”, diet affects a person’s feelings even more when one is

depressed. He either eats more than usual or not eat at all due to loss of appetite .

Loneliness spoils the appetite of many older people who lose the incentive and

energy to eat the required variety of healthy foods. The stomachs of older people also are less

distensible and signal the feeling of fullness earlier, experts said. Problems chewing and

swallowing can also spoil the appetite of older people. An additional reason for the problem

is that taste, smell and thirst sensations decrease with age.

Hubbard further states that exercise releases endorphins, those brain chemicals

that makes a person feel good (the natural versions of the drugs people take to get

high). Endorphins are a gift from God; they reward anyone who does things that are

good for him , such as exercising, and accomplishing a meaningful task. Exercise is

especially important during depression. Besides releasing endorphins and improving

general health, it helps regulate a person’s appetite and sleep patterns. (Hubbard, 2002,

p. 33).

Knowledge about nutrient needs and nutritional status have grown considerably

in recent years. People are also getting conscious more than ever of the risk factors, the

major and minor implications of poor nutritional status. The most common among the

risk factors are arthritis, which afflicts most of the older people, osteoporosis,
gastrointestinal disorder, coronary heart disease and hypertension, diabetes among others.

Other risk factors include disease, poor eating habits, tooth loss, mouth pains, economic

hardships, reduced social contact and others. Older people are becoming more and more

aware of the relationship between their nutritional intakes and their physical health and

the implications in the way they carry themselves in traversing the road to old age,

conscious of the purpose of their growing old.

In the following section of the research, the researcher will consider evidence to

establish relationship of nutritional intake/diet among older people to the physical health

status, that the nutritional intake and the food intake patterns of the older people are in

fact part and factor for physical health and longevity of life characterized by self-esteem

and self-worth giving them a high level of response to success and failures on their

undertakings in this latter stage of their lives.

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods that will be used by the researcher to come up

with the needed data, the process and the procedure of gathering data, a description of the

research locale, the respondents of the study, the instrumentation and statistical tools that

will be used in analyzing the gathered data. This will facilitate the understanding and

appreciation of the processes used in the study necessary to answer the problems and to

test the hypothesis.

This would also help in the easy understanding of the interpretation of the

findings of the study for future use.

Research Design
 N on-experimental research design, specifically correlational descriptive approach will be

utilized in conducting the study. Structured interview will be used as a tool in gathering the needed

information. It will be used to identify the present health conditions and the nutritional intake among

older people of Hermana Fausta Development Center and the relationship that exists between these

two variables. Through this method, the necessary data will be collected from the older people of the

center.

Research Locale

This study will be conducted at Hermana Fausta Development Center, a center for

community extension service and community outreach center of Sacred Heart College, Lucena

City- the oldest Catholic institution in Quezon Province run by the Daughters of Charity.

Among the programs and services the center provides is the nutritional feeding program for the

older people of Lucena whose ages range from 65 to 80 years old. Although they are not in-

house clients of the center, they regularly come for their basic concerns including nutritional

needs.

Being a community outreach center of Sacred Heart College, the researcher’s Alma

Mater, the center caters to older people of the greater Lucena City area and not just a barangay,

thus, the preference of the researcher for the center as the subject of the research.

Population and Sample

The respondents of the research are 35 old people of Hermana Fausta

Development Center whose ages range from 65 to 80 years old. Although they are not in-

house clients of the center, they regularly come to the center for their basic needs which
include material, social, recreational, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. Additional

information and data validation will also be solicited from the staff of the center.

Research Instrumentation

The study will use the interview method in obtaining the necessary data and

information to answer the research problem. This will be done in order to facilitate easy

collection of data, thus minimizing time and effort involved. The researcher will

formulate guide questions based on related literature and studies as well as additional

readings and then, respondents’ answers will be tabulated for statistical treatment.

The set of questions for the interview is intended to gather the following

information from the respondents:

a. The demographic profile in terms of age and physical health conditions of

the respondents

b. The nutritional intake of the respondents as reflected in the kind and quality

of the food they eat

Statistical Treatment
 The data that will be collected through the interview will be statistically treated

using standard statistical tools. Qualitative data will be translated numerically using a four

point scale. Weighted Mean (WM) will be computed with the formula:

WM = Σ(fw)

Where: WM = is the value of the scale or the weighted mean

Σ= is the sum of the products of frequency

n = is the total number and weight of respondents

Weighted means will be interpreted using the following continuum:

3.10-4.00 =ALWAYS

2.10-3.00 = OFTEN

1.10-2.00 = SELDOM

0.00-1.00 = NEVER

Simple Mean

X = ∑x

Where: ∑x is the sum of all the X – values

n is the total number of x values

Computation of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient

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