Nutritional Barriers in Geriatrics

Date

2015-03

Forner, Elizabeth A.

Feezel, Ashlea

Irani, Ayesha

Hersh, Jessica

Joseph, Justin

This research was performed to identify the community resources available to the geriatric patient population with specific regards to their nutrition. We have identified the specific obstacles that geriatric patients face in receiving proper nutrition and have sought out multiple programs within our community that address these issues.
We targeted the most significant and widespread problems that geriatric patients experience and then located programs that could best assist with these needs. We identified programs specific to Tarrant County and those that have a focus on the care of the elderly.
We found that the most significant problems encountered by this population are weight loss and malnutrition and have identified that these factors are directly correlated with and increased morbidity and mortality rate, increased risk for hospital admissions, decreased disability, and dependency. Some notable contributing factors include socioeconomic factors, psychological factors, and physiological factors including oral and dental health, gastrointestinal health, and the frequent presence of multiple disease processes. We have found that the Tarrant County Meals on Wheels program and Senior Citizen Services of Greater Tarrant County provide extensive support in these regards.
In conclusion, we have identified that Tarrant County provides this population with adequate and numerous resources to address their specific nutritional and medical needs as a whole.