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March
29, 2018
By
Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging
We
all know that good nutrition is the foundation of good health. Healthy
eating can help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight, prevent the
onset of chronic diseases, reduce inflammation, and speed recovery from
injuries. On the other hand, poor nutrition is connected to a variety of
health problems.
Earlier
this month, I had lunch with Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon
General. I shared some of the things ACL was working on during National
Nutrition Month, and we talked about how important nutrition is for the
people ACL serves.
VADM
Adams gets it. “People who don’t have enough healthy food are more likely
to be hospitalized, tend to experience longer hospital stays, and are more
likely to be readmitted after discharge. Good nutrition is important
to everyone, but it is even more critical for those at risk for being food
insecure, such as older adults and people with disabilities, many of whom
already are already at increased risk of hospitalization.”
Unfortunately,
a variety of factors can make it harder for older adults and people with
disabilities to get the nutrition they need.
As
we age, our bodies generally become less able metabolize food, and many
people with disabilities have unique nutrition needs. If people do not
fully understand those needs, it can be very difficult to make informed
choices that lead to better health. In addition, both older adults and
people with disabilities can face barriers to eating well. For example, a
lack of public transportation could limit access to fresh groceries, and
some people need the support of a caregiver to prepare or eat meals.
ACL
is working with the aging and disability networks to help address these
issues.
The
Older Americans Act (OAA), passed in 1965 and reauthorized in 2016,
acknowledged the importance of good nutrition for older adults by creating
two important meal programs.
The
Congregate Meal Program brings people together for meals in group settings such
as senior centers, while the Home-Delivered Meal Program provides meals for
frail, homebound, or isolated individuals. Both programs serve people age
60 and over, and, in some cases, their caregivers, spouses, and people with
disabilities.
Both
programs offer nutrition-related services and other important benefits, in
addition to the meal. Congregate meals provide companionship, access to
other health activities, and wellness programs — nearly two-thirds of
providers of congregate meals also offer health promotion programming.
Home-delivered meals provide an opportunity for social interaction and
informal safety checks. In fact, sometimes the person delivering the meal
is the only person the older adult sees regularly; without the meal
delivery, the older adult could be completely isolated.
The
impact of these programs cannot be overstated. First, they play a key role
in preventing senior hunger and food insecurity. They also help seniors
remain independent. In a recent survey, 63 percent of congregate meal
recipients and 93 percent of home-delivered meal recipients reported that
the meals allowed them to continue living in their own homes.
Similarly,
many of the ACL services and supports that help people with disabilities
avoid isolation and remain active in their communities help increase access
to nutrition. ACL also supports programs to help people with disabilities
understand and manage their individual nutrition needs, while other ACL
initiatives aim to increase the nutrition knowledge of the professionals
who provide services and medical care for people with disabilities.
For
example, ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) has funded projects studying nutrition
interventions for a variety of populations, including people with
psychiatric disabilities and spinal cord injuries. In addition, many
ACL-funded University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
(UCEDDs) have professionals on staff with expertise in disability and nutrition.
UCEDDs
in five states are partnering with the Association of University Centers on
Disabilities (AUCD) and the Walmart Foundation on the “Nutrition is for
Everyone” program. The program provides nutrition education, including
direct training, for people with disability and community members. In my
home state of Oklahoma, the program is supporting nutrition education
training, in English and Spanish, for families with children with
disabilities. The training is taught by two parents of children with disabilities.
The program is also working with the Oklahoma Self-Advocacy Network to
offer training to people with disabilities on fitness, healthy eating, and
interacting with their health care team.
Many
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities are also taking an active role
in promoting nutrition. For example, South Carolina is funding a “Fit for
Life” program that promotes health and wellness for young adults and adults
with disabilities. They do this by pairing fitness classes with nutritional
support and trips to the grocery store.
Food
is an important part of everyone’s day. And for older adults and people
with disabilities, it is vital to be well nourished — not just fed — to
live the healthiest possible life. At ACL, we are committed to our continued
work the aging and disability networks and other partners to support good
nutrition as key part of helping people live independently. And while
National Nutrition Month is coming to an end, we will keep spreading the
word about eating well and living well – I hope you will join us!
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