Malnutrition in older adults is commonly seen in the community, hospitals, long–term care, and across all practice settings. The prevalence of undernutrition in older adults is estimated at 1% to 5% in community dwellers, 20% in hospitalized older adults, and 37% in the long–term care setting. Malnutrition often leads to avoidable health and economic burdens in older adults including reduced quality of life, compromised ability to recover from medical conditions, and greater mortality and complications while hospitalized.
Primary care physicians and other senior care clinicians need to expand their ability to identify those suffering from malnutrition and recognize how nutritional status affects morbidity, mortality, and quality of life in older individuals. In addition, providers need to be aware of how to appropriately assess nutrition as well as improve their efforts to recommend and provide effective nutrition interventions in the elderly.
The goal of this activity is to expand the ability of primary care physicians and other senior care clinicians to provide optimal care for older adults who suffer from malnutrition, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and quality of life.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this educational activity, the participant should be able to:
- Describe the impact of malnutrition on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life in older adults.
- Appropriately evaluate the nutritional status of older adult patients.
- Recognize safe and effective approaches for nutrition intervention for older adults with unintended weight loss.
Faculty: Kenneth Schmader, MD Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Geriatrics
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC
Connie Watkins Bales, PhD, RD Professor of Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC
Susan Roberts, MS, RD, LD, CNSC Assistant Director of Clinical Nutrition
Dietetic Internship Director
Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Todd W. Canada, PharmD, BCNSP, FASHP Nutrition Support Pharmacist
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Division of Pharmacy
Houston, Texas
Mary Campagnolo, MD, MBA, FAAFP, DABFM, CAQ–Geriatrics Family Physician
Virtua-Lumberton Family Physicians
Lumberton, New Jersey
Media Format(s): e–Newsletter
Hardware/Software Requirements: Minimum System Requirements: • Pentium III, 600 MHz or Equivalent Processor • 512 MB of RAM • Windows XP, Vista, or 7 • Mac OS X • 800x600 Monitor Resolution • 16-bit Color • 16 bit Sound Card with Speakers
Expiration Date: 02/15/2013
This activity is supported through a restricted educational grant from Abbott Nutrition Health Institute, Abbott Laboratories, Inc.
