Nutritional Status in Elderly People Living in Retirement Homes in the Czech Republic

he population of the Czech Republic (CR) is approximately 10 million inhabitants. It presents 2.3% of the extended EU population. In the Czech Republic the older population percentage is rapidly increasing due to the increase in life expectancy (M 73 yrs, F 79 yrs) and an extremely low birth rate, which has existed since the 1990 s (fertility rate increased slightly from minimum 1.13 in 1999 to 1.44 in 2006). In 2007, 15% of inhabitants were aged 65+ (more than 1.5 mil.), by 2030 the 65+ population is expected to reach 22.8%, and by 2050, it is expected to be 31.3%. The proportion of persons in the highest age group (85+) is growing the most rapidly and increases in life expectancy, in both sexes, is expected to continue, with estimated life expectancies of 84 years in males and 88 years in females by 2065. The relative share of seniors will unevenly increase in coming decades due to natural ageing of the early 1970 s “population boom,” which was a direct consequence of pro-birth measures linked to social policies of political “normalization”. The age structure in the CR, measured by the age preference index, is currently on par with the EU average, however, if present trends persist, the population of the CR will gradually become one of the oldest in Europe. Health insurance of pensioners, in the CR, is financed from the state budget. Traditionally, provision for health and social care was concentrated in modern institutions (hospitals, elderly homes, residential nursing homes, etc.). It is only recently that small steps, involving new trends of extramural care (e.g. home care) have been taken and political support for independent living and family care has only recently, been declared. Nonetheless, rising financial stress on the health care budget and persistent mental and organizational stereotypes and traditions T