Nutritional risk among Oklahoma congregate meal participants

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there were differences by demographic variables in response rates to Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) Checklist statements reported by over 50% of Oklahoma Older Americans Act Nutrition Program (OAANP) congregate meal participants categorized at high nutritional risk based on cumulative NSI Checklist scores. DESIGN: This study evaluated Oklahoma State Unit on Aging statewide archival demographic and NSI Checklist data from 8892 OAANP congregate participants. ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using chi-square analyses. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of congregate participants were categorized at high nutritional risk. Over 50% of participants categorized at high nutritional risk reported "yes" to having an illness or condition that affected food eaten; eating alone; taking 3 or more medications; and inability to shop, cook, and feed themselves. Significant differences were observed in participant "yes" response rates to these NSI Checklist statements by demographic variables. Participants responded "yes" more to these statements if they were female, of advanced age, and living alone or in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study indicate problem areas and population groups for targeting nutrition education programs and services among Oklahoma OAANP congregate meal participants.