Lecture Reflection: Aging Adults and Nutrition

     One thing that initially drew me to the field of occupational therapy is the holistic approach to patient care. I love how the practitioner considers the whole person and their needs to participate in the things they find most meaningful. Last week we had guest speaker lecture on the importance of nutrition for the aging adult population. One thing that stood out to me was the statistics presented about how many aging adults are living in poverty and as risk for being undernourishment. The speaker also lectured about the importance of nutrition for wound healing and overall recovery.
     Occupational Therapy can support the work of nutritionists and help their clients in a variety of ways that promote nutritional intake. One such intervention includes working with clients to be independent with meal preparation. This could look like working  to improve their balance and strength for cooking tasks. You could also host a cooking class at a local community center for older adults working on process skills and safety awareness to support their ability to follow a recipe and cook independently home. Another intervention to support nutrition intake would be providing and educating individuals about adapted cutlery for those who may have arthritis, Parkinson’s, or other limitations that impedes self-feeding. Eating is an important occupation that is both meaningful and necessary. It’s important for all occupational therapists to understand the role nutrition plays in the lives of aging adults and tailor their practice to support occupations surrounding nutritional intake.  

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