Description of a mixed ethnic, elderly population. III. Special diets, food preferences, and medicinal intakes.

BACKGROUND The objective was to assess the use of physician-prescribed special diets, food preferences, and daily and occasional drug use by elderly participants in a Title III-C Nutrition Program. METHODS Data were collected by nonrandom interviews of congregate and meals-on-wheels clients. Chi-square was used to assess whether food and drug behaviors were related to six population variables: ethnicity, age, gender, congregate versus meals-on-wheels clients, proportion of noon meal usually eaten, and whether clients lived alone or with others. RESULTS Special diets and daily and occasional medications showed no significant differences with regard to the six variables. Broccoli was the food disliked most frequently. Suggestions that certain foods be served more frequently were greater among white than black clients (p < .001) and among home delivery than among congregate clients (p < .005). Persons who regularly ate half or less of the noon meal made more suggestions for cooking foods differently (p < .005) and had longer lists of favorite foods (p < .001) than those who usually ate most of or all of the meal. Persons who lived alone had more suggestions for cooking foods differently (p < .005) and serving certain items more often (p < .05) than those who lived with other persons. Favorite foods, changes in cooking methods, and frequency of offering certain foods were not related significantly to age or to gender. CONCLUSIONS Certain suggested changes in food choices and preparation can be implemented within Title III guidelines and may improve food intakes. While medicinal intakes were similar to those reported previously for the elderly cohort, there is reason for concern with regard to drug-induced illness.