Eating for health: Perspectives of older men who live alone

Aim: To investigate the perspectives of older, single-living New Zealand men towards healthy eating. Methods: Twelve semistructured interviews with men aged 75 to 89 years using mixed methods and a general inductive analysis approach. To enrich description, participants were assessed for nutrition risk using a validated questionnaire, Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition, and nutrition knowledge using the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire. Results: Six of the men were assessed to be at high nutrition risk. Eating alone was the most common nutrition risk factor. The mean score for the nutrition knowledge questionnaire was 58.3 +/- 12.7 out of maximum score of 110. Three core themes related to healthy eating practices emerged from the analysis. Firstly, the men were influenced by their individual circumstances. Limited finances and a lack of personal transport were barriers to healthy eating and were partially ameliorated by reliable, support networks. Secondly, a lack of nutrition knowledge and cooking skills impinged on both healthy eating and meal enjoyment. Thirdly, food-related values held by the men impacted eating behaviours positively or negatively. Conclusion: The present study provides an insight into the perspectives of older men towards their food-related activities. Past experiences shaped their approach towards healthy eating. Community programmes need to identify those at nutrition risk, provide those at need with knowledge and skills and promote meal sharing. Initiatives need to be cognisant of the food-related values, desire for time and effort efficiency and the explicit needs and wishes of older men.