AGRICOLA FNI 92000713, Personal interviews were conducted with 116 free-living, yet frail older adults in an urban setting to determine their nutrition interests and their preferred methods of acquiring nutrition information. Two nutritionists specializing in aging, one health educator, and one trained senior volunteer conducted interviews at respondents' homes; respondents were either current or potential customers of a nonprofit home-delivery grocery service. The focused interviews used a pilot tested questionnaire designed to elicit basic program planning information: 1) topics of interest, 2) preferred presentation methods, including structure of class settings, and 3) current sources of nutrition information. Analysis of the results showed that frail elderly people are interested in a variety of topics relating to nutrition and health, especially getting their money's worth in buying foods and nutrient retention in food preparation. Respondents found written materials to be both the most interesting information presentation method and the most helpful information source. They identified other helpful sources of food/nutrition information as follows: food package labels, television programs, cookbooks, physicians and home economists, dietitians and nutritionists. Survey results can serve to guide effective educational strategies for older adults. (original)
