Development and Evaluation of a Multi-State Older Adult Nutrition Education Pilot Program

Research with healthy elderly suggests that excellent nutritional status is a vital component for preventing and/or treating a number of chronic diseases. Currently, there are few tested nutrition education programs to aid elders in remaining healthy or improving health status. Aging Americans need...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nutrition for the elderly 2003-06, Vol.22 (4), p.55-68
Main Authors: Barkley, Mary Clarke, Higgins, Mary Meck, Hart, William D., McClelland, Jacquelyn W., Saddam, Alma
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
behavioral change
elderly
food guide pyramid
healthy eating
Nutrition education
older adults
stages of change
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Summary:Research with healthy elderly suggests that excellent nutritional status is a vital component for preventing and/or treating a number of chronic diseases. Currently, there are few tested nutrition education programs to aid elders in remaining healthy or improving health status. Aging Americans need to have increased access to appropriate and effective nutrition education. The purposes of this article are to describe the process of developing and evaluating a pilot nutrition education program for older adults, the Healthy Eating for Life Program (HELP), and to share experiences and insights of a multi-state collaboration of extension state specialists and nutrition researchers. HELP's focus is on the five food groups, emphasizing the importance of consuming nutritious food as the pathway to health rather than dependence upon dietary supplements. Lessons learned during the pilot, as well as strengths and barriers to multi-state collaborations, are discussed.
ISSN:0163-9366
1540-8566
DOI:10.1300/J052v22n04_05