Malnutrition among older adults in the San Joaquin Valley is a serious problem, but one that may be hidden. Malnutrition has been linked with several negative health conditions including increased chance of infection, weakness and fatigue, decreased bone strength, and even impaired functioning of the lungs. Our research suggests that for those 65 years and older, nutritional deficiencies are associated with increased risk of injury and is common in those who are hospitalized. But the diagnoses are not as common in medically underserved areas such as the San Joaquin Valley, even though the older adults in these regions have less access healthy foods, worse health conditions, and poorer access to healthcare providers. This suggests that hospitals in medically underserved areas should increase their testing of malnutrition among older adults, and primary healthcare providers need to ensure that they assess the nutritional status of their older patients on a regular basis.
RESEARCH
2013 California hospital data was examined to see whether malnutrition rates were higher in medically underserved areas for those patients 65 years and older. Our research shows that of those patients who were admitted to a hospital, being diagnosed with malnutrition is slightly higher in medically underserved areas, but by only five percent. Being that older adults living in medically underserved areas have less access to healthy foods and health care, it is surprising that there is only a five percent difference. This can be due to the fact that malnutrition is still being under diagnosed in medically underserved areas. Health care providers should be more aware of screening older patients for malnutrition in order to make sure they are getting the necessary care and treatment.
