Geriatric Nutrition

Program Description: 

The Master's program is a multidisciplinary program and aims to address a critical training gap in the field of Geriatric Nutrition, a highly specialized area. Given the increasing aging population, there is a growing demand for qualified professionals capable of meeting the specific nutritional needs of this group. Consequently, this program is designed to be particularly appealing to Dietitians-Nutritionists and medical professionals specializing in Geriatrics. These professionals often work in nursing homes and geriatric centers, where they provide care, training, and conduct research. It's important to recognize that addressing nutritional issues and malnutrition in the elderly is a complex task. It requires a deep understanding of the interaction between the progressive decline of physiological systems associated with aging and various chronic diseases and conditions. While proper nutrition is essential, providing adequate nutrition for the elderly can be a challenging objective. Individualizing diets to meet specific requirements often involves the use of supplements and specialized dietary products to tailor the diet to each patient's unique profile.

Objectives:

The aims of the Geriatric Nutrition course are to explore the physiological changes that occur with aging and their impact on nutritional needs. Learn how to assess nutritional status in older adults, including macronutrient and micronutrient requirements. Discuss the prevalence and management of chronic diseases in older adults, such as diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis. Design nutrition programs. Provide nutritional counseling to older adults, considering their cultural diversity and medication use. Apply nutrition principles to delay effects of aging and disease, to aid in the management of the physical, psychological, and psychosocial changes commonly associated with growing old. Discuss how to screen for malnutrition risk, assess malnutrition severity, and diagnose malnutrition and its causes. Provide nutrition therapy by explaining how to provide, monitor, and manage nutrition therapy for older patients as a way to close nutrition gaps, support patient recovery from illness and injury, and improve long-term outcomes. Manage drug and food interactions, handle food allergies and intolerances, and adapt diets for age-related health conditions. And finally enhance care for older adults by promoting health, addressing nutritional challenges, and ensuring a well-balanced personalized diet in promoting healthy aging. These aims are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the unique nutritional needs of older adults and improve their overall health and well-being.