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.
Athena Title
Nutrition, Health, and Aging
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in NUTR 4560, NUTR 6560
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
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 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 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.
Syllabus