Building a Community Hub to Combat Older Adult Malnutrition
By Mary Walsh, National Council on Aging
Nearly every community has programs that can help older adults get the nutrition they need. But most seniors and their caregivers—and even many health care professionals—don’t know about the programs or how to connect with them.
A group of aging organizations is working to change that. The National Council on Aging (NCOA), Maryland Department of Aging, Defeat Malnutrition Today, Meals on Wheels America, and Brandman Centers for Senior Care co-developed an online Community Malnutrition Resource Hub to help all stakeholders work collaboratively to combat senior malnutrition.
Malnutrition among older adults is a real problem with serious consequences. Up to 10% of all older Americans are malnourished. The numbers are even higher for seniors in health care settings. About 60% of older adults in hospitals and 35-85% of older residents in long-term care facilities are malnourished. Malnutrition can worsen chronic conditions and make it difficult for older adults to remain independent.
A 2016 survey by NCOA found that community-based organizations want and need materials to raise awareness about and address this issue with the seniors they serve.
The Resource Hub is designed to help. It provides resources for local agencies, public health leaders, health care professionals, and others who want to tackle this problem. Within the hub, visitors can:
- Build a knowledge base: Review the latest and most pertinent reports, fact sheets, videos, toolkits, and policy statements related to malnutrition among older adults.
- Support integration across roles: Explore how different professionals can play a role, including community dieticians, hospital discharge planners, and social workers.
- Use existing organizations and programs: Understand the federal assistance programs, state and local organizations, and international efforts that are addressing this issue.
- Implement assessments and tools: Get practical tools to use at a community level, including instruments to screen for malnutrition, patient education materials, and sample meal plans.
Helping our older citizens get the nutrition they need is truly a team effort in every community. This Malnutrition Awareness Week™, NCOA encourages ASPEN members to explore the Resource Hub at www.ncoa.org/ResourceHub and discover how they can play a part in the solution.
