title: Position paper of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition across the spectrum of aging.
abstract: It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that older Americans receive appropriate care; have broadened access to coordinated, comprehensive food and nutrition services; and receive the benefits of ongoing research to identify the most effective food and nutrition programs, interventions, and therapies across the spectrum of aging. Food and water and nutritional well-being are essential to the health, self-sufficiency, and quality of life for the fast growing, heterogeneous, multiracial, and ethnic populations of older adults. Many people, as they age, remain fully independent and actively engaged in their communities; however, others fare less well and need more support. A broad array of appropriate, culturally sensitive food and nutrition services, physical activities, and health and supportive care customized to the population of older adults are necessary. National, state, and local policies that promote coordination and integration of food and nutrition services into health and supportive systems are needed to maintain independence, functional ability, chronic disease management, and quality of life. Dietetics professionals can take the lead by researching and developing national, state, and local collaborative networks to incorporate effectively the food and nutrition services across the spectrum of aging.
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Marie Fanelli
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kuczmarski
authors.forename: Diane O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Weddle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004046:Dietetics / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011788:Quality of Life; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States