Effect of individually tailored nutritional counseling on frailty status in older adults with protein-energy malnutrition or risk of it: an intervention study among home care clients.

Background: Frailty and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) are common in older home care clients. In this study, we evaluate the effect of individually tailored dietary counseling on frailty status among home care clients with PEM or its risk aged 75 or older with a follow-up of six months.

Methods: This intervention study is part of the non-randomized population-based Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) study in Finland.

Underweight, overweight, and weight change in older family caregivers and their care recipients: longitudinal evidence from a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to identify differences among body mass index (BMI) categories of older family caregivers (≥60 years) and their care recipients (≥65 years). Secondly, this study aimed to examine group differences and factors associated with weight change during a nutrition and oral health intervention. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrial.

Family caregivers' better nutritional status is associated with care recipients' better nutritional status.

Background And Aims: A high proportion of older care recipients (CRs) face malnutrition and risk of malnutrition, affecting their functional abilities and posing challenges for caregiving. The aim of this study was to assess the risk for malnutrition among older CRs and the associated characteristics of both CRs and family caregivers (FCs) with nutritional status of CRs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study consisted of 120 CRs (≥65 years) and their 118 FCs (≥60 years).

Use of oral health care services by family caregivers and care recipients: the LENTO intervention.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the impact of an individually tailored preventive oral health intervention on the use of oral health care services by older family caregivers (FCs) and their care recipients (CRs).

Material And Methods: A randomized controlled six and 12-month oral health intervention study included FCs and CRs aged ≥65 years living in Eastern Finland. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (FCs n = 53, CRs n = 47) and a control (FCs n = 39, CRs n = 35) group.

Use of oral health care services among older home care clients in the context of an intervention study.

Background: An increasing number of care-dependent older people living at home need external support to receive regular dental care.

Objectives: To investigate the use of oral health care services among old home care clients who participated in an intervention study focusing on oral self-care and nutrition.

Materials And Methods: This study employed data from the multidisciplinary Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) intervention study with a population-based sample of 245 home care clients (74% female) aged 75 or more divided in intervention (n = 140) and two control groups (n = 105).

Assessing Social Inequalities in Older Family Caregivers' Frailty Conditions, Comorbidity, and Cognitive Functioning: A Cross-sectional Study.

We aimed to assess the social inequalities in older family caregivers' frailty conditions, comorbidity, and cognitive functioning. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Study participants were recruited in 2019 in Finland.

Depressive symptoms, low-grade inflammation, and poor oral health prevents the success of nutritional guidance in older caregivers.

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine which factors prevents the success of nutritional interventions for older family caregivers (FCs), in the form of individually tailored nutritional guidance.

Methods: The present study focuses on the intervention group of FCs (n = 63) of a randomized controlled trial. Older FCs (≥60 years of age) receiving a care allowance for a home-living care recipient (≥65 years of age) were included in the present study, which focused on nutritional interventions via individually tailored nutritional guidance provided by a clinical nutritionist.

Older family caregivers' diet-related disparities: Cross-sectional evidence from Finland.

Background: Some older family caregivers experience financial vulnerabilities due to their caregiving role, which may affect their ability to afford appropriate food. This study aimed to assess the extent to which there are diet-related disparities among older family caregivers in Eastern Finland.

Methods: This study is based on the multidisciplinary LifEstyle, NutriTion and Oral health in caregivers (LENTO) study.

Prevalence and risk factors of frailty among older family caregivers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of frailty and identify the demographical and clinical factors associated with frailty among older family caregivers.

Method: The participants of this cross-sectional study were older family caregivers (n = 125) living in Eastern Finland. Data on functional and cognitive status, depressive symptoms, nutritional status, medication, chronic diseases, stroke, and oral health were obtained.

Lack of freedom predicted poor self-reported health among family caregivers of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

Aim: We aim to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported health and quality of life among family caregivers of children with disabilities across Europe.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Data from the survey by the Eurocarers and IRCCS-INRCA were used.

Risk of Malnutrition and Insufficient Protein Intake among Older People Living at Home: Baseline Findings of the Power Meals Study.

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status, nutrient intake and associated factors among older home care clients, caregivers and care recipients (≥65 years) living at home. There were a total of 78 participants, with a mean age of 78 ± 7.4 years.

Individually tailored nutritional guidance improved dietary intake of older family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Older family caregivers (FCs) are vulnerable to insufficient dietary intake and risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of individually tailored nutritional guidance on the dietary intake and nutritional status of older FCs and their care recipients' (CRs') nutritional status.

Methods: This study was a randomized controlled 6-month nutrition intervention in Eastern Finland.

Addressing the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Finland.

This cross-sectional study assessed the experiences of family caregivers of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited ( = 101) between April and December 2019. We applied a mixed-method approach.

Eating problems among old home care clients.

Aims: The purpose was to examine the prevalence and determinants of self-reported eating problems in old home care clients, screened separately by a clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist.

Methods And Results: The data came from the Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication (NutOrMed) study, the participants of which were ≥75-year-old home care clients living in Finland. The structured interviews were conducted at the participants' (n = 250) homes.

Effect of individually tailored nutritional counselling on protein and energy intake among older people receiving home care at risk of or having malnutrition: a non-randomised intervention study.

Background: With ageing, food intake may decrease and lead to an insufficient nutrient intake causing protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) which is associated with adverse health effects and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individually tailored dietary counseling focused on protein intake among home care clients with PEM or at risk of developing PEM. The secondary aim was to study the intake of energy and other nutrients.

Informal caregivers' perceptions of oral care and their association with the use of oral health services: A cross-sectional study among informal caregivers and their care recipients.

Objective: This study aimed to describe informal caregivers' perceptions of the importance of oral care and investigate the association between these perceptions and the use of oral health services during the past year.

Background: There is limited research on informal caregivers' perceptions of oral care. These perceptions presumably influence oral self-care along with caregivers' and care recipients' use of oral health services.

Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Among Family Caregivers of Older Adults.

Background: Although the academic literature has focused on family caregivers' health outcomes, little is known about the social and environmental determinants of health and the extent to which they relate to health disparities among family caregivers caring for older adults.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to describe the prevalence of diseases and the association with social and environmental determinants of health among family caregivers caring for older adults in Finland.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted.

Optimizing nutrition and oral health for caregivers-intervention protocol.

Background: The focus of care has shifted from institutional care to home care. Family caregivers provide the majority of home care that allows an opportunity for their care recipients to live at home and avoid costly institutional care. The aim of this study is to describe the nutritional status, oral health, and quality of life of family caregivers over the age of 65 and their care recipients, and to evaluate the impact of individually tailored diet and oral health advice to their nutritional status and oral health.

Inadequate Intake of Energy and Nutrients Is Common in Older Family Caregivers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional status, determinants of nutritional status, and adequacy of energy and nutrient intake of older family caregivers (FC). Nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), plasma albumin, plasma pre-albumin, and blood hemoglobin concentrations. Dietary intake was assessed with a three-day food record.

The association of frailty with oral cleaning habits and oral hygiene among elderly home care clients.

Background: Increasing numbers of frail elderly people living at home but dependent on supportive care will face complex oral health challenges.

Objectives: To investigate the associations of frailty status with oral cleaning habits and oral hygiene taking into account the effects of preventive oral health intervention among home care clients aged 75 or over.

Methods: Data were gathered by interviews and clinical oral examinations at baseline and after a 6-month follow-up.

The combined effect of individually tailored xerostomia and nutritional interventions on dry mouth among nutritionally compromised old home care clients.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of tailored xerostomia and nutritional 6-month interventions on xerostomia among home care clients aged 75 years or over who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

Background: A subjective feeling of dry mouth (xerostomia) is common among older adults and affects their quality of life, nutrition and oral health. Medical conditions, polypharmacy, dehydration and malnutrition are often underlying causes of xerostomia.

Prevalence and risk factors of frailty among home care clients.

Background: Frailty is a common problem among older people and it is associated with an increased risk of death and long-term institutional care. Early identification of frailty is necessary to prevent a further decline in the health status of home care clients. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of frailty and associated factors among 75-year-old or older home care clients.

Chair rise capacity and associated factors in older home-care clients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of older home-care clients to perform the five times chair rise test and associated personal characteristics, nutritional status and functioning.

Methods: The study sample included 267 home-care clients aged ≥75 years living in Eastern and Central Finland. The home-care clients were interviewed at home by home-care nurses, nutritionists and pharmacists.