Nutrition for the Older Adult

1
Nutrition for the Older Adult

• M. Burns
• FCS 3151

2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
Healthy People 2010

• Reduce the prevalence and overall number of
  people who suffer from chronic diseases
• Increase the proportion of adults who are at a
  healthy weight
• Increase the consumption of foods in accordance
  with the food guidance systems
• Increase the proportion of dr. visits
• Increase the proportion of adults engaging in
  physical activity daily
• Increase the proportion of worksite wellness
  programs

5
Eating habits are affected by
6
Risk Factors Influencing Nutrition Status of
Older Adults

• Socioeconomic
• Psychological
• Environmental
• Physiological
• Polypharmacy
• Nutrient needs

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
Cycle of Malnutrition
10

• Joint effort to promote nutrition and improve
  nutritional care for the elderly.
• ADA, American Academy of Family Physicians,
  National Council on Aging
• Goals identify potential risk factors, identify
  indicators of malnutrition, and raise public
  awareness

11
Combating Malnutrition

• Health Promotion
• Worksite wellness
• Nutrition education
• Food Assistance Programs

12
Nutritional Risk Factors

• lt8 main meals/week
• lt 1 c milk daily
• Little/no intake of F/V
• Wastage of food
• Long periods without food/beverage
• Depression/loneliness

• Unexpected weight change
• Shopping difficulties
• Low income
• Presence of disabilities, including alcoholism

13
Assistance Programs

• Adult Day Care
• Meals/snacks to participating day care programs
• Seniors Farmer Market Program
• Food Stamp Nutrition Education
• Food Stamp Program

14
Food Stamp Program

• Food Stamp Act of 1977 (PL 95-113)
• Objective is to improve the diets of low-income
  households by increasing their food purchasing
  ability
• Eligibility and allotment based on Thrifty Food
  Plans

15
Critical Thinking Moment

• Currently, about 9 of the FSP participants are
  older adults (60) with only 30 of the eligible
  participating.
• WHY?

16
Barriers to Participation

• Physical
• Transportation, location, lack of services
• Economic
• Perceived unaffordability, poor but still dont
  qualify
• Cultural
• Language, distrust, discomfort with
  participating, pride
• Limited funding at federal level

17
Assistance Programs

• Medicare/medicaid
• Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP)
• AOA
• Meals, transportation, shopping assistance,
  limited nutrition education, referral and
  attention to needs of the homebound elderly

18
Focus on Elderly Nutrition Program

• Older Americans Act of 1965
• Established AOA
• 1972, established ENP
• Congregate and home-delivered meals, therapeutic
  diets
• Improve older persons nutritional status and
  enable them to avoid medical problems, continue
  living in communities of their own choice, and
  stay out of institutions.

19
Focus on ENP Goals

• Low-cost, nutritious meals
• Opportunities for social interaction
• Nutrition screening and assessment
• Nutrition education and shopping assistance
• Counseling and referral to other social and rehab
  services
• Transportation services

20
Focus on ENP Sample Meal Pattern

• 3 oz meat/meat alternate
• Two ½ c svg fruit and/or vege
• 1 svg enriched white or whole grain bread
• 1 tsp butter or margarine
• 8 oz milk or calcium equivalent
• 1 dessert

21
Focus on ENP Benefits

• Based only on age, not on income
• Cost effective
• Funding covers more than food
• Transportation, shopping assistance, etc
• Nutrition and functional assessment
• Nutrition education, albeit limited

22
Focus on ENP Limitations

• Lack of regular provision of w/e and evening
  meals
• Waiting lists for home-delivered meals
• Cost of home-delivered meals
• No therapeutic meals
• Greater demand due to growing population

23
Private Sector

• Provides leadership and professional training to
  those who provide congregate and home-delivered
  meals
• Grant opportunities
• Reaches out to communities not fully serviced by
  ENP
• Provides weekend and holiday meals in addition to
  ENPs typical 5 meals/week

24
(No Transcript)