Professor University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Abstract: Malnutrition in long-term care (LTC) homes is prevalent and ranges from 26-85%. Adequate food intake is necessary to prevent morbidity, mortality and poor quality of life. Of particular concern in older adults is the quantity and quality of the dietary protein. Research has provided evidence that LTC residents do not consume enough protein to meet their nutrient requirements and increasing food volume exacerbates the problem. The intake of dietary protein is important in supplying indispensable amino acids (AA) needed for the maintenance and repair of body tissues. However, the current estimates of protein intake are based on crude protein levels, with evidence suggesting that the requirement for dietary protein is higher in older adults, estimated to be 1.1 – 1.2 g/kg/d, and thus higher than the protein requirement estimates for younger adults (0.8 g/kg/d). A further concern relates to the fact that protein intake estimates for older adults, including those in LTC, are not corrected for protein quality. Therefore, there is a lack of information as to the quality-corrected protein intakes for older adults in LTC, with potential implications related to our understanding of adequate protein nourishment in this setting. This session will discuss research conducted to measure the quality-corrected protein intake of older adults in LTC, and strategies designed to increase the protein quality of LTC menus. Enhancing food items, providing nutrient-dense foods and high quality protein foods reflect key components of and overall strategy to address the challenges of inadequate protein intakes in LTC residents.