Opportunities in the Aging Network: Join the Wave!
Description
Interested in providing nutrition services to the 95% of older adults who live in the community? Geriatric nutrition is not just nursing homes! 10,000 people turn sixty each day, and by 2035 there will be more adults over the age of sixty than children under the age of twenty. Additionally, food insecurity and malnutrition among older adults is increasing. The US has a rapidly aging population with increasingly diverse nutritional, equity and health needs. The unique skills of RDNs are vital to serving this population and there is a national network of over 20,000 organizations at the federal, state, regional, and local levels addressing the nutrition, socialization and health needs of community-living older adults. The opportunities for RDNs within this network are vast and growing: public policy developers, foodservice managers, nutrition consultants, nonprofit directors, and so much more. During this session, participants will learn about employment opportunities, the skills needed to succeed in securing a position, and professional growth in the emerging field of community-based nutrition and aging services.
Learning Objectives:
- Define what the aging network, Older Americans Act, and senior nutrition program network are.
- Demonstrate how RDNs can professionally contribute to the senior nutrition program and community-dwelling older adults
- Explain why RDNs should advocate for older adult nutrition in a community setting
Performance Indicators:
- 12.1.1 Advocates for and promotes food and nutrition programs and resources to address issues of food insecurity, nutritional health and overall health and wellness
- 12.2.6 Determines resource needs to develop, implement and maintain programs, initiatives and interventions.
- 3.3.3 Advocates for access to health and nutrition services.
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Bambi Press, RD, LD
Healthy Aging Director
Iowa Department on Aging and Nutrition & Aging Resource Center
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Erin Hoisington, RDN, LDN
Nutrition and Aging Content Director
Nutrition & Aging Resource Center/Iowa Department on Aging
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Caroline McKinney, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC
Nutrition Innovation Director
Nutrition & Aging Resource Center/Iowa Department on Aging