Dietitian Course: Nutrition Life Stage 5: The Older Adult

NUTRITION LIFE STAGE 5: THE OLDER ADULT

As individuals age, their nutritional needs and health challenges evolve. While disease prevention remains important, education and care must be tailored to address each older adult's specific medical conditions and circumstances.

Common issues among older adults include:

Malnutrition and Dehydration: These are prevalent due to factors such as reduced appetite, difficulty swallowing, and limited access to nutritious foods.

Food Insecurity and Lack of Family Support: Some older adults struggle to obtain adequate food, often due to financial constraints or social isolation.

Sarcopenia (Loss of Muscle Mass): Aging naturally leads to decreased muscle strength, which can impact mobility and independence.

Memory Loss: Cognitive decline, including dementia, can affect the ability to maintain proper nutrition and self-care.

Polypharmacy: Managing multiple medications increases the risk of drug interactions and side effects, which can influence nutritional status.

Depression: Mental health challenges may reduce motivation to eat or prepare meals.

Chronic Conditions: Diseases such as COPD, incontinence, and hypertension require specific dietary considerations and ongoing management.

Loss of smell and taste, Dry mouth : Some medications as well as aging can cause decreased taste bud sensory, loss of smell and dry mouth which can lead to decreased intake and weight loss.

Effective nutritional support for older adults should:

Be individualized, considering medical history, current health status, and personal preferences.

Address barriers such as food insecurity and social isolation.

Include education for both older adults and their caregivers about the importance of balanced nutrition and hydration.

Upon successful completion of this course, the participant should be able to :

Understand how micro and macronutrient needs are individualized based on medical conditions, weight and nutrient deficiencies.

Identify common medical and health issues facing the older adult.

Understanding the RD role is to educate on managing disease and not disease prevention.

Recognize food insecurity and social isolation.

Live Webinar Date: Jan 13, 2026 (04:00 PM - 05:00 PM Eastern Time) (US and Canada)

Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 2.3.1, 5.1.6, 5.2.3, 7.3.1, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 9.2.3

Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals

Number of Credits: 1.0

Level(s): 1, 2

Total Cost: 1 Site Credit

About the Presenter: Barbara Truitt, MS, RDN, LDN

Barbara currently teaches online nutrition courses for Rasmussen University and is a Renal Dietitian for two DaVita Clinics. Barbara started with DaVita in Feb 2023. She is responsible for all patient education as well as review of monthly labs and daily fluid reports. Before this, Barbara was the Clinical Coordinator for Keiser University where she placed students in their supervised practice sites. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. She is a contributor to two publications, the first one Food Folklore: Tales and Truths About What We Eat, and You Can’t just Eat a Cheeseburger which is a true story about a young woman who struggled with an eating disorder. Before academia, Barbara worked in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dual diagnosis centers and had her own private practice.