Malnutrition Awareness and Supporting Older Adults

About 1 in 4 older adults is malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition occurs when we don't get or absorb enough nutrients from our food. It affects every part of the body, harming physical and mental health.

Risk increases with age and is often tied to other factors like chronic conditions, social isolation, and limited access to nutritious food - but it's not a normal part of aging. Malnutrition is preventable.

ACL programs funded by the Older Americans Act are critical in identifying at-risk older adults and delivering services that help them stay nourished, independent, and engaged. The Senior Nutrition Program provides healthy, balanced meals in group and home settings, while also reducing isolation and connecting participants to other key supports.

Evidence-based programs like chronic disease self-management education and falls prevention address risk factors that contribute to malnutrition, including physical decline, medication side effects, and poor appetite.

National resource centers provide training and tools to help the aging services network implement these programs effectively. The following resources from ACL's Nutrition and Aging Resource Center highlight but a few strategies and innovations:

• How ACL's Senior Nutrition Program helps address malnutrition
• Guide to incorporating malnutrition into a state plan on aging
• Grantee innovation "lightning talks" on malnutrition and food insecurity
• Malnutrition Screening Practices for OAA Nutrition Programs

For more information, visit the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, and to find a local nutrition program, visit the Eldercare Locator.

About Malnutrition Awareness Week™
Malnutrition Awareness Week™ is an annual observance led by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) to raise awareness about malnutrition and the importance of early detection, treatment, and prevention. Learn more at nutritioncare.org/MAW.