Course Description
Foods and nutrients in the health and well-being of the elderly; effects of aging on macro and micronutrient needs; influence of disease, medications, economics, and culture; nutritional assessment, support, and services; health promotion and disease prevention; future directions for research.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will complete an additional classroom
presentation that requires an understanding and synthesis of the
selected topic that is well beyond that required for the
undergraduate students; the presentation will be at least 45
minutes in length with at least 10 references appropriate to the
topic. Graduate students will also be expected to complete a
project that is broader in scope and demonstrates an
understanding and synthesis of the selected topic that is well
beyond that required for the undergraduate students; examples of
projects include nutrition and health needs assessments of older
adults in various settings (community or institutional) at the
local, state, national or international level.
Athena Title
Nutrition, Health, and Aging
Prerequisite
(NUTR 3100 or NUTR 4050/6050) and (CBIO 2210-2210L or CBIO 2210E or VPHY 3100 or VPHY 3100E)
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Identify the needs for nutrition assessment and intervention across the continuum of care for various subgroups of older adults: healthy community dwelling, frail home-bound, assisted living, and nursing home. Understand the role of the aging process on the metabolism of macro and micro-nutrients. Understand the role of nutrition in prevention and management of chronic health problems in older adults (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and cognitive impairment). Recognize the influence of disease processes and medications on nutritional status in the aged. Understand the role of socio-demographic factors such as social isolation, poverty, economic uncertainty, food insecurity, and culture on nutritional status of older adults. Learn nutritional assessment and support services procedures for older adults. Become skilled in the role of health promotion in disease prevention for the older adults. Know the relationships among appropriate nutrition services, positive health outcomes, and reduced health care costs of older adults. Develop nutrition education programs targeted to specific subgroups of the older adults. Develop oral presentation skills related to nutrition and aging. Identify areas of nutrition research that will increase the quality of life for older adults.
Topical Outline
Nutrition assessment and intervention for various subgroups of older adults. Role of the aging process on the metabolism of macro and micro-nutrients. Influence of disease processes and medications on nutritional status in the aged. Role of sociodemographic factors on nutritional status of older adults. Nutritional assessment and support services for older adults. Role of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention for older adults. Relationships of nutrition and health care costs for older adults. Nutrition education programs for subgroups of older adults. Effective communication with older adults. Research needs for nutrition and quality of life for older adults.