Nutritional status and independence in daily life activities of individuals aged 65 or over during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

The prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly with COVID-19 is high. Maintaining daily life activities despite restrictions during the pandemic is also important for all individuals, not least those who are older. This study was carried out to determine the nutritional status and independence in daily life activities of the elderly during the pandemic period. This was a cross-sectional- descriptive study. Data were collected from a city center where West of Turkey and from 155 elderly people. The study data were collected from individuals who were determined using the snowball sampling method through phone calls with a personal information form, the Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale, and the Katz Activities of Daily Living Index. The study found that 60% of individuals aged 65 or older had malnutrition. The majority of the participants performed daily life activities independently. A moderate positive relationship was found between nutritional deficiencies and independence in daily life activities of the elderly. During the pandemic period, the nutrition and physical activity of the elderly are affected. The results suggest that nutrition and physical activity status of the elderly should be evaluated. National-level initiatives should be organized to meet the needs of the elderly during the pandemic.