PP478 - BETWEEN WORRY AND SHAME: PERCEPTIONS, BELIEFS, AND FEELINGS RELATED TO MALNUTRITION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
PP478
BETWEEN WORRY AND SHAME: PERCEPTIONS, BELIEFS, AND FEELINGS RELATED TO MALNUTRITION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
S. Brugman1,*, M. de Graauw1, E. Leistra1, B. Groot-Sluijsmans1,2
1Health sciences, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, 2Health, Sports and Physical Activity, Applied University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rationale: Malnutrition is a prevalent health problem among community-dwelling older adults associated with adverse health outcomes, yet older adults are generally unaware of the risks of malnutrition. This study aimed to gain a holistic understanding of perceptions, beliefs, and feelings related to malnutrition among community-dwelling older adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Methods: Within the social-constructivist approach, five focus groups with a total of 30 older adults were conducted in the Netherlands. The aim was to purposefully recruit adults aged 65+ of Dutch ethnicity, and adults aged 55+ of (Dutch-)Moroccan and (Dutch-)Turkish ethnicity. Transcripts were analysed inductively by reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: (1) Participants were unfamiliar with the occurrence of malnutrition. (2) Participants were able to mention a variety of physical and psychosocial signs of malnutrition, often associating it with wartime and starving children. (3) Psychological difficulties and loneliness were perceived as the main causes of malnutrition. (4) Malnutrition in others evoked feelings of sadness and powerlessness, whereas malnutrition in oneself elicited a false sense of shame. Perspectives on worry appeared to be shaped by religious beliefs. (5) Among older adults, discussing malnutrition and pointing out visible signs in others was considered socially unacceptable. When healthcare professionals suspected malnutrition and offered support, this was often resisted, due to a desire for independence and low perceived urgency.
Conclusion: The unfamiliarity and reluctance to discuss malnutrition hinder recognition among older adults. Shame and a strong desire for autonomy are barriers to alerting others to malnutrition and to accepting help. Future interventions on raising malnutrition awareness should be framed positively and promote autonomy, considering religion and social norms.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared