Assessment of Food Practices by Residents in Nursing Homes, Study of Relationship Between Food Intake and Nutritional Status.

Nutrition is an essential component of health and a key determinant of aging and quality of life of individuals. Malnutrition in the elderly is now recognized as a public health problem affecting nearly half of residents in nursing homes. The fight against malnutrition requires to rethink the meal in all its dimensions, beyond the nutritional needs. In order to improve practices of care at the elderly, the impact of environmental and social aspects of food in nursing homes has been assessed. The social environment and interactions during the meals are now identified as effective ways to stimulate food intake and increase feelings of well-being in the elderly. The objectives of the study are to characterize the appreciation of food and social interactions during the meals and to study the relationships between the quality of food practices and nutritional status of the residents in nursing homes to improve their quality of life.