© 2013 cengage-wadsworth healthy aging nutrition assessment, services, and programs

© 2013 Cengage-Wadsworth

Healthy Aging

Nutrition Assessment, Services, and Programs


Demographic Trends and Aging

• Americans are living longer than ever before

• Good nutrition can retard and ease the aging process in many significant ways

• Proportion of elderly is increasing dramatically

• Health care demands will increase


Healthy Adults

• National Goals for Health Promotion• Healthy People 2020 focus areas for older

adults – • Reduce prevalence and number of people

suffering from chronic diseases• Increase number receiving pneumonia and

influenza vaccinations and colorectal screening

• Increase daily physical activity and cardiovascular health

• HP 2010 final report – there was little or no progress in most objectives


Healthy Adults• Understanding baby boomers• Born between 1946 and 1964• Almost one-third of U.S. population• General characteristics:

• Have the power to change the marketplace• Make decisions based on personal beliefs• Are constantly pressed for time• Look for value and quality in their investments• Will not age gracefully• Like nostalgia


Healthy Adults

• Nutrition education programs• Found in both public and private sectors• Nutritional goals:

• To help consumers select diets providing enough energy to maintain healthful weight

• Meet recommended intakes for all nutrients• Low in solid and trans fat, added sugars,

sodium, cholesterol, and alcohol• Adequate in whole grains and fiber


Healthy Adults• Public programs:

• Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNP)

• FDA and USDA public education campaign on food labels and food safety

• Family Nutrition Program

• National Cholesterol Education Program

• DASH - High Blood Pressure Education Program

• Fruits and Veggies: More Matters

• The WOMAN Challenge


Healthy Adults

• Health promotion programs• Classified under four main areas:

• Policies

• Screenings

• Information or activities

• Facilities or services

• New Healthy People 2020 objectives address the need for community programs


Aging and Nutritional Status

• Primary nutrition-related problems of aging• Functional capacity declines in almost

every organ system• Changes in absorption of nutrients• Chronic diseases• Physiological, psychological,

environmental, socioeconomic factors


Aging and Nutritional Status

• The Academy nutrition policy recommendations for health promotion for older adults• Several major recommendations are related to the

value of nutrition services• Strategies to improve care and broaden access to

nutrition services for older adults are supported • Recommend that nutrition services and nutrition

counseling and education be included throughout health care services


Evaluation of Nutritional Status

• Malnutrition• Poverty• Living alone• Medications interfering with nutrient absorption

• Daily Activities• Increasing difficulty with daily activities• Activities of daily living (ADLs) – self-care

functions• Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) –

require higher level of functioning


National Nutrition Screening Initiative

• Developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and National Council on Aging

• Primary products of this cooperative effort were screening tools designed to be used by the older person and health professionals



• “Determine Your Nutritional Health” checklist – for older person or care provider to determine need for services



• Those identified at risk should be followed up with more in-depth screening and assessment of nutritional status


Nutrition Assessment

• Components:• Anthropometric measures• Clinical assessment• Biochemical assessment• Dietary assessment• Functional assessment• Medication assessment• Social assessment

Risk Factors



Home and Community-Based Programs and Services

• General assistance programs• Nutrition programs of USDA• Nutrition programs of DHHS• The Older Americans Act Nutrition Program

• Private-sector nutrition assistance programs• Nutrition education and health promotion

programs for older adults


Looking Ahead: Successful Aging

• Prepare for old age early in life• Learn to reach out to others to forestall

loneliness • Develop skills or activities that can continue

in later years• Develop the habit of adjusting to change• Arrive at maturity with as healthy a mind and

body as possible

© 2013 cengage-wadsworth healthy aging nutrition assessment, services, and programs

Documents

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