Preparing Dietetic Interns for the Future: Building a practice Foundation in Geriatric Nutrition - 07/09/11
LEARNING OUTCOME: The learner will be able to describe five educational benefits and ten specific community-based experiences that directly involve interns in practices that positively impact the nutritional status and knowledge of the elderly population.
Abstract |
The US Census Bureau predicts a dramatic increase of the population aged 65 and older to 20% of the population by 2030. These projections bring concerns about the elderly to the forefront of public health issues. Although the Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) is a highly successful program, the Administration on Aging identifies future challenges, including addressing the 64% of congregate and 88% of home-delivered meals participants who remain at high or moderate nutritional risk, as assessed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI). According to the NSI, health care professionals also need education and training in identifying, evaluating, and providing feeding assistance. Consequently, we implemented dietetic internship rotations that assess, provide, monitor, and research nutrition services, including education, to seniors and ENP personnel - in long-term care settings, ENP dining centers, homes for those receiving delivered meals, and through a campus-based Nutrition Education Center. Evaluative feedback demonstrates improved comprehension of nutrition issues by those served. Interns gain practice in developing and implementing educational models, materials, and evaluation instruments for group education. Individualized counseling experience is gained in varied community-based settings. Interns articulate a broader and deeper understanding of issues influencing the health and nutrition status of the elderly, including psychosocial aspects. Further, feedback indicates that interns are empowered by sense of independence required during these rotations. As a bonus, the utilization of these more diverse sites reduces the need of site usage in traditional health care settings (e.g., hospitals) while meeting vital community needs, an important consideration when several practice programs are located in a similar geographic region. Full access to the curriculum outlining objectives, experiences, and evaluation will be provided.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Vol 99 - N° 9S
P. A83 - septembre 1999 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?