Jill R. Polfer Vanguard University

Student

Nutrition for Older Adults

• Aging and physiological changes • Nutritional needs in the older adult• Goals for older adult health and

nutrition per healthy people 2020• Prevention of Malnutrition

OBJECTIVES

60 years old and abovePopulation of older adults is increasing

2011 : “Baby Boomers” turned 652030 : population close to

37 million

Older Adults

In general, the older adults are known to be the most poorly nourished group among the rest of the age

groups

Aging and Diet

Risks for malnutrition due to:sensory loss

oral health problems (chewing, swallowing)chronic illness or disabilities

memory loss and/or decreased attention span use of multiple medications

food likes/dislikesfood allergies

cultural or religious dietary requirements

Aging and Diet

Risks for malnutrition due to:Illness accompanying medications may reduce appetite

Malnutrition is associated with complications

Risk for dehydration

Decrease ability of kidney to concentrate urine

Limited movement

Aging and Diet

Current medical studies prove that good nutrition can prevent or at least slow down

such degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease

Aging and Diet

OA-7 Increase the proportion of the health care workforce with geriatric certification

OA-7.1 Increase the proportion of physicians with geriatric certification

OA-7.2 Increase the proportion of psychiatrists with geriatric certification

OA-7.3 Increase the proportion of registered nurses with geriatric certification

OA-7.4 Increase the proportion of dentists with geriatric certification

OA-7.5 Increase the proportion of physical therapists with geriatric certification

OA-7.6 Increase the proportion of registered dieticians with geriatric certification

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 GOALS

• Primary Primary prevention is aimed at preventing disease and includes immunizations, well-care doctor visits, being aware of and removing potential hazards in the home and workplace, education on nutrition and the importance of regular exercise and cessation of tobacco use and excessive alcohol intake.• Secondary Secondary prevention is after the onset of disease and focuses on interventions to terminate or slow the disease process already in place. • Tertiary Tertiary prevention is focused on helping manage chronic, complicated and long-term illness and improving quality of life

PREVENTION

CONCLUSION

Baumeister, S. E., Fischer, B., Döring, A., Koenig, W., Zierer, A., John, J., . . . Meisinger, C. (2011). The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index predicts increased healthcare costs and hospitalization in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults: Results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort study, 1994–2005. Nutrition, 27(5), 534-542. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.nut.2010.06.005

Buys, D. R., Roth, D. L., Ritchie, C. S., Sawyer, P., Allman, R. M., Funkhouser, E. M., . . . Locher, J. L. (2014). Nutritional Risk and Body Mass Index Predict Hospitalization, Nursing Home Admissions, and Mortality in Community- Dwelling Older Adults: Results From the UAB Study of Aging With 8.5 Years of Follow-Up. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 69(9), 1146-1153. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1093/gerona/glu024 Han, Y., Li, S., & Zheng, Y. (2008). Predictors of nutritional status among community-dwelling older adults in Wuhan, China. Public Health Nutrition PHN, 12(08), 1189. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1017/s1368980008003686

REFERENCES

Lange, J. W. (2012). Healthy eating. In The nurse's role in promoting optimal health of older adults: Thriving in the wisdom years (pp. 223-229). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.Portland Community College. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pcc.edu/programs/gerontology/career-healthcare.html

United States Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020. (2015, September 14). Older Adult: Overview. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/older-adults

Volkert, D. (2013). Malnutrition in Older Adults - Urgent Need for Action: A Plea for Improving the Nutritional Situation of Older Adults. Gerontology, 59(4), 328-333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000346142

REFERENCES