Eating capability assessment in elderly population

During the course of a meal, one needs to exert numerous coordinated actions. Ageing process implies physiologically weakened muscles, lack of natural teeth and movement coordination, causing difficulties in eating process. Then, old individuals with these capabilities depleted are more vulnerable to suffer malnutrition and to have their life quality compromised. This chapter describes the eating capability as a measurable term to represent the practical capability of an individual in food handling and oral consumption. By introducing this term, our main aims are to establish objective methods for the assessment of an individual’s capability of eating and to help carers to make the right choice of food for elderly individuals. The eating capability consists of some major components relating to food handling, oral food manipulation, sensing, and cognitive capability. Specific meanings and implications of each component are discussed in detail, with special attention to the elderly. Moreover, some latest results of the eating capability assessment are also explained in this chapter.