C.S. Johnson*,**

*School of Nutrition & Dietetics, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. **Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario . Correspondence: C. Shanthi Johnson, PhD, RD, School of Nutrition & Dietetics Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B0P 1X0, Canada. Ph: (902) 585-1204. Fax: (902) 585-1095. Email: shanthi.johnson@acadiau.ca

PURPOSE: The purposes were 1) to examine the level of nutritional risk among recently bereaved individuals, with or without intervention for grief resolution, and those in coupled relationships and 2) to examine the dietary issues faced by the three groups. METHODS: Twenty-two individuals from the above-mentioned categories were selected. Background information was elicited using a questionnaire. Focus group interviews and the Determine Checklist were used to assess dietary issues and nutritional risk, respectively. RESULTS: Bereaved individuals, irrespective of whether they had counseling for grief resolution or not, had a moderate risk for poor nutrition (score >3). Although the level of risk was similar between the two bereaved groups, it was significantly different from those in coupled relationships, who had the lowest risk (1.43). Based on the interviews, the dietary issues included: 1) food acquisition, preparation and consumption; 2) difficult meals - place and time; 3) influence of social network/spouse; and 4) food and nutrition information. The food-related issues faced by bereaved individuals were similar, but substantially different from those in coupled relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that bereavement counseling does not serve as a gateway to reduced nutritional risk and highlights the need to address food issues in grief resolution interventions.

Keywords: Aging, nutritional risk, elderly, dietary issues, marital status, nutrition, bereavement, grief resolution.