'Healthy Aging': American Dietetic Association calls White House Conference on Aging an opportunity to focus attention on role of nutrition in older people's health

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -– The 2005 White House Conference on Aging offers an outstanding opportunity to focus the nation's attention on the crucial role of nutrition in the "healthy aging" of our nation's population, according to the food and nutrition experts of the American Dietetic Association.

"Healthy aging is a priority for ADA," said registered dietitian and ADA President Rebecca S. Reeves, one of 13 ADA members who are delegates to the White House Conference. "Good nutrition is essential to health, independence and quality of life of older adults."

One of the draft resolutions for consideration at the conference, being held Dec. 11 through 14 in Washington, D.C., relates directly to nutrition and was included as a result of advocacy by the American Dietetic Association: "Promote the importance of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention and management."

Reeves said implementation of more than 20 additional draft resolutions could benefit from services provided by dietetics professionals, including:

-- Reauthorization of the federal Older Americans Act, which expired in September.

-- Promote innovative models of non-institutional long-term care.

-- Improve access to care for older adults living in rural areas.

-- Apply evidence-based research to the delivery of health and social services where appropriate.

-- Prevent disease and promote healthier lifestyles through educating providers and consumers.

-- Improve health and quality of life through disease management and chronic care coordination.

-- Strengthen and improve Medicare and Medicaid.

ADA has identified numerous nutrition and health challenges facing older adults, including:

-- Nearly 90 percent of older adults have diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia or a combination of these chronic diseases, all of which can be treated through nutrition interventions.

-- Seventy percent of the physical decline among older adults with chronic disease is associated with modifiable risk factors, such as nutrition and smoking.

-- Forty percent of people age 65 and over living in community settings have inadequate nutrient intakes.

-- Food and nutrition services tend to be provided to older adults through a patchwork of health-care and social support systems, not through a comprehensive, consistent approach.

"Dietetics professionals are exceptionally qualified to work with older adults, helping maintain their quality of life," Reeves said. "We provide medical nutrition therapy that lessens people's risk of chronic diseases, slows disease progression and reduces symptoms. According to the Administration on Aging, keeping an older adult in the hospital one day equals the cost of home-delivered meals for the same person for one year. And good nutrition can prevent many of the reasons older adults are hospitalized in the first place, including dehydration, falls, pressure ulcers and unintended weight loss."

With nearly 65,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association serves the public by promoting optimal health and well- being. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org.