Project Team:
Andrea M. Morris, Jessa K. Engelberg, Brenda Schmitthenner, Amy Herr, Kai Oliver-Kurtin
West Health Institute, La Jolla, CA
Background:
Malnutrition is one of the greatest threats to successful aging for seniors today
o Up to 1 out of 2 seniors are at-risk
o It disproportionately affects seniors health and well-being, and is associated with poor health outcomes and greater healthcare costs
o Malnutrition is a multifaceted condition with both clinical and social risk factors that are often bidirectional or synergistic
o Clinical risk factors include: chronic conditions, frailty, depression, polypharmacy, poor oral health, age and impaired swallowing
o Social risk factors include: lack of transportation, food insecurity, poverty, social isolation and limited access to federal assistance programs
o There are many existing efforts and initiatives that have worked to advance senior malnutrition care, in both clinical and community-based settings