Abstract
Given the increasing number and diversity of older adults and the transformation of
health care services in the United States, it is the position of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics and the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior that all older
adults should have access to evidence-based food and nutrition programs that ensure
the availability of safe and adequate food to promote optimal nutrition, health, functionality,
and quality of life. Registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics
technicians, registered, in partnership with other practitioners and nutrition educators,
should be actively involved in programs that provide coordinated services between
the community and health care systems that include regular monitoring and evaluation
of programming outcomes. The rapidly growing older population, increased demand for
integrated continuous support systems, and rising cost of health care underscore the
need for these programs. Programs must include food assistance and meal programs,
nutritional screening and assessment, nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy,
monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of evidence-based outcomes. Coordination
with long-term care services and support systems is necessary to allow older adults
to remain in their homes; improve or maintain their health and manage chronic disease;
better navigate transitions of care; and reduce avoidable hospital, acute, or long-term
care facility admissions. Funding of these programs requires evidence of their effectiveness,
especially regarding health, functionality, and health care–related outcomes of interest
to individuals, caregivers, payers, and policy makers. Targeting of food and nutrition
programs involves addressing unmet needs for services, particularly among those at
high risk for poor nutrition. Registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and
dietetics technicians, registered must increase programmatic efforts to measure outcomes
to evaluate community-based food and nutrition services.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 15, 2019
Footnotes
This Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position was adopted by the House of Delegates Leadership Team on November 9, 2009 and reaffirmed on March 20, 2013. The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Board of Directors approved the position paper. This position is in effect until December 31, 2026. Position papers should not be used to indicate endorsement of products or services. All requests to use portions of the position or republish in its entirety must be directed to the Academy at [email protected] .
Authors: Susan Saffel-Shrier, MS, RDN, CD, Certified Gerontologist (University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT); Mary Ann Johnson, PhD (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, NE); Sarah L. Francis, PhD, MHS, RDN (Iowa State University, Ames, IA).
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT The authors received no funding for this article.
Reviewers: Mary Beth Arensberg, PhD, RDN, FAND (Abbott Nutrition, division of Abbott, Columbus, OH); Sharon Denny, MS, RD (retired, Academy Knowledge Center, Chicago, IL); Mary Pat Raimondi, MS, RD (retired, Academy Policy Initiatives & Advocacy, Washington, DC); Constantina Papoutsakis, PhD, RDN (Academy Research, International & Scientific Affairs, Chicago, IL); Academy Healthy Aging dietetic practice group (Judy R. Simon, MS, RD, LDN, Maryland Department of Aging, Baltimore, MD); Carmen Castaneda Sceppa, MD, PhD (Northeastern University, Boston, MA); Ock K. Chun, PhD, MPH (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT); Kathleen T. Morgan, DrMH, NDTR (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ); Kelly A. Morrison, RD, CSG, LDN (self-employed, Groton, CT); Alyce D. Fly, PhD (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN); Bret Luick, PhD (University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK); Gail Douglas, RD, (Balanced Senior Nutrition, Malabar, FL) Paula Ritter-Gooder, PhD, RDN, CSG, LMNT, FAND (consultant, Seward, NE).
Academy Positions Committee Workgroup: Karen R. Greathouse, PhD, RD (Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL); Mary Ellen Posthauer, RDN, CD, LD, FAND (MEP Healthcare Dietary Services, Inc, Evansville, IN); Julie L. Locher, PhD, MSPH (content advisor) (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL).
We thank the reviewers for their many constructive comments and suggestions. The reviewers were not asked to endorse this position or the supporting paper.
The American Society for Nutrition partnered with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior on the development of this statement and endorses the statement’s recommendations.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
