"There does not appear to be a decline with age in the ability of non physiological factors to influence the nutrient intakes of the elderly, but they may not have as great an influence due to lower absolute levels. This suggests that the deficient intakes in the elderly might be corrected or ameliorated by manipulation of non psychological factors, such as the number of other people present at meals, the palatability of meals, and the time of day and the location of meals."
This article discussed how the elderly community compared to younger adults in regards to food intake. There was prove given that elderly have a more suppressed appetite than the younger adults. This suppression causes many elderly to become malnutritioned and developed health issues. The author studied how non psychological factors could be used to increase the intake of food amount the elderly group. His study compared 762 broken down into four age groups for 7 days of dietary eating habits. The results showed that the elderly were as responsive to social facilitation, palatability, cognitive restraint, time of day, day of week, and location. The author discussed how hunger could be a psychological as well as a physiological feeling. He then discussed how environmental stimuli could increase the intake among the elderly. He claims that the elderly could be more enticed to frequent restaurants with music in the back ground, and will do so earlier in the day than the younger adults.
What is the relevance of this topic:
We as designers will be facing a rise in the population that will be meeting the elderly age group. Their health is vital to us in many ways. Simple one would be basic caring for their livelyhood. Yet other major thoughts would be in terms of prevention of medical problems and stopping malnutrition of the elderly which could cause major medical problems for the elderly. Designers carry a huge responsibility for designing resturants (fine dining or even fast food), community dining facilities, etc, that would stimulate the appitties of the eldely. This author provided clues to what designers need to do to engage and interact the elderly in a dining experience.
We, as designers, can make our dining environment designs promote group dining, good lighting, pleasent conversation with the proper accustical control, comformt, and stimulation of the senses in ways that provide the needed motivation of elderly individuals to want to eat. If we have control over the non psycholoigal parts of the dining experience, then we need to know how to properly design for this aging community.
How I feel about it:
This topic is one that designers will face as the population is aging. If we are to truly provide better quality of life for these individuals, then we must think of preventive measures to health concerns and not wait until problems have developed. Since nutritional issues are concerns with the elderly, can we not take a proactive approach and design dining facilities that encourage and promote food consumption for the elderly and others? I think it sould be viewed as a part of good logical design that is inclusive of all individuals.
Article: Age-Related Changes in the Social, Psychological, and Temporal Influences on Food Intake in Free-Living, Healthy, Adult Humans
Author: John M. de Castro
Publication: The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 57:M368-M377 (2002).
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2 comments:
Tommy,
Interesting article here. New information like this is a classic example that interior designers can use to attend to the situational design that eating represents.
It's said that life happens in the cracks--and this is a great example of a focused scope study that can help make an every day task better and more healthy for the user.
I think good food really has the potential to change the world.
Think about it: once you design the perfect dining space (I'll leave that to you, Tommy), you get people together and feed them delicious food, and what do they do? They talk to each other! For hours if they can! Keep the courses coming!
Check out:
"Slow Food Nation" by Carlo Petrini
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