Nutrition for the Second Half of Life Nutrition for the Second Half of Life relates the physiological changes of aging to nutritional requirements and describes the impact of those changes on intake, absorption, and metabolism. This module also describes common barriers to optimal nutrition and ways to improve dietary habits and health outcomes.

Module Content:

* Changes in body composition and nutrient requirements

* Nutritional assessment of the elderly

* Osteoporosis, Hypertension, Stroke, Dementia: nutritional influences

* Physiological changes: impact on nutrient intake, absorption and metabolism

* Renal function: protein, fluids and electrolytes

* Food fads, vitamin/mineral self-supplementation, polypharmacy

* Dietary recommendations

Proposed Case Study: 70-year-old woman with hypertension and osteoporosis

Proposed Learning Objectives:

After completing this module, you should be able to:

1. Describe the changes in body composition that accompany aging.

2. List physical changes that impact nutrient intake and absorption.

3. Provide dietary guidance to improve intake and health of the elderly.

4. Specify which nutrient requirements increase and decrease with aging.

5. Cite barriers to good nutrition in the elderly population and strategies to overcome.

6. List common nutrient deficiencies of the elderly.

7. Explain how decreasing renal function impacts nutrition in the elderly.