National Poll on Healthy Aging calls for specialized services amid COVID-19

09 Jun 2020 --- Strategies or special services are needed to help older adults safely shop for food and prepare healthy meals at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), which was carried out in December, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in full. The authors note that the pandemic has since highlighted barriers that many consumers face when it comes to accessing high-quality, nutritious ingredients for cooking healthy meals, while also underscoring the importance of food access and the ability to cook at home.

“For those who find getting to the store difficult or are currently reluctant to shop for groceries themselves, strategies to facilitate the use of grocery delivery or curbside pickup services may help ensure continued access to healthy foods. In addition, when people feel comfortable eating meals outside the home again, increased use of strategies such as menu labeling, as well as accessible and transparent nutrition information, will be important in helping people make healthy choices when eating at restaurants or carrying out,” details the NPHA.

It highlights that eating a healthy diet has always been important for maintaining good health. Helping older adults learn to cook healthily at home and when eating or carrying out could have numerous benefits for maintaining health as individuals age. 

The poll revealed that older adults frequently went food shopping but rarely used curbside pickup or home grocery delivery services. This means that with the onset of restrictions, many older adults may be unfamiliar with these services. For many older adults, accessing grocery stores has also become more difficult due to fear of exposure to COVID-19 and changes in store hours and operations. 

Additionally, social distancing measures have led to widespread changes in cooking and food shopping practices across the population. NPHA details that high unemployment has increased food insecurity, creating financial barriers to accessing sufficient and nutritious food for many households. 

“As the pandemic evolves, it will be important to understand how shopping and cooking practices have changed as well as the effect of those changes on diet, overall health and well-being,” states the NPHA. 

Home-cooks rate diets as healthier
NPHA’s survey was administered online to a randomly selected, stratified group of 2,048 adults between the ages of 50 and 80, with a completion rate of 77 percent. Nearly half of the participants said that they or someone in their household cooked food for at home at least six days out of the past week. Two in five had a home-cooked dinner three to five days in the past week, with 11 percent having a home-cooked dinner two or fewer times. 

People aged 65 to 80 and White or other/multi-race respondents cooked dinner at home more often than those aged 50 to 64 and Black respondents. The poll also revealed that older US adults who cook differ at home often rate their diets as healthier than those who cooked dinner less frequently. 

When asked to rate the overall health of their diet, 34 percent rated their diet as excellent or very good, 43 percent rated it as good, and 23 percent said it was fair or poor. Older adults who cooked dinner at home at least six days per week were more likely to describe their diet as excellent or very good (42 percent), compared to those who cooked dinner at home two or fewer days per week (23 percent). 

Respondents who regularly eat fast food were more likely to rate their diet as less healthy. Eating with others was also associated with a healthier diet. Of those who always or often ate alone, only 26 percent described their diet as excellent or very good, compared to 39 percent of those who rarely or never ate alone.

Notably, 51 percent of people ate fast food at least once in the past week, including 11 percent who ate fast food three or more times. Meanwhile, 53 percent ate at dine-in or sit-down restaurants at least once a week, and 11 percent did so three or more times in the past week. One in three older adults reported eating takeout or delivery food at least once in the past week, but only 4 percent did so three times per week or more.

The market for aging consumers is rapidly expanding as people live longer lives than ever before. In this space, Valio introduced Valio Eila NUTRI F+ lactose-free formulated milk protein powder, positioned as providing older adults with essential nutrients for maintaining cognitive and physical functioning. Meanwhile, Lonza and Euromed previously spotlighted ingredients for healthy aging covering mobility, mental agility, glycemic control and heart health, as well as skin and hair health. 

Earlier this year, NutritionInsight heard from key players that the face of aging is shifting away from outward appearances. Additionally, brain health is emerging as a major priority. 

Edited by Katherine Durrell