SPONSORSHIP FOR THE GERIATRIC MALNUTRITION PROJECT 2011
The Geriatric Malnutrition Project 2011 is a project spearheaded by a 6-student team, under the MOE Leadership Development Program. This project aims to educate malnutrition elderly in the Tampines Changkat area on the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.
Recent assessments of the elderly’s dietary lifestyle and their health show 99% of them are malnourished, notably, an appalling 30% of them face moderate to high nutritional risk. The 30% of the study belong to the lower socioeconomic class.
Changes in body composition during ageing include loss of lean body mass, bone mass, body water, and a relative increase in fat mass. Older people appears to respond to these changes with a lower energy intake and may even over-respond, which results in negative energy balance and risk of progressive malnutrition. Also, altered or reduced taste perception that occurs with ageing may influence enjoyment in eating, further reducing intake. Some older people may have reduced efficiency of digestive and absorptive functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, in order to help the elderly in the Tampines Changkat area to eventually ameliorate the malnutrition problems, these students came up with healthy and simple food recipes for the elderly. Through the distribution of the food recipes and food pack, the elderly can learn how to whip up simple dishes which are healthy and nutritious.
People Bee Hoon Factory supported the Geriatric Malnutrition Project 2011 by sponsoring rice vermicelli; while our sister company, Super Q International sponsored rice. The sponsored food packs and food recipes received warm reception from the elderly during the distribution and sharing session held on 22 December 2011.