TY - JOUR
T1 - Frailty Prevention and Treatment: Why Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Need to Take Charge
AU - Wilkinson, Rachel
AU - Arensberg, Mary E.
AU - Hickson, Mary
AU - Dwyer, Johanna T.
PY - 2016/8/11
Y1 - 2016/8/11
N2 - Americans aged 85 years or older are the fastest growing population segment in the U.S. Many older adults have multiple chronic degenerative diseases and other illnesses. These conditions can take a toll on their ability to perform basic activities of daily living, frequently resulting in a poorer quality of life, frailty, and increased disability. Today there are no common, well-accepted guidelines for the prevention or treatment of frailty. Frailty, like obesity and diabetes, is a condition with a multiplicity of causes. Thus a multi-factorial approach—including nutrition—is needed for its prevention and treatment. Internationally, healthcare systems are establishing multidisciplinary protocols on frailty; in Europe, dietitians are taking a very active role in the development and implementation of these protocols. We believe that registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the U.S. have the responsibility today to take a similar leading role; becoming integral to nutritional screening, intervention, and advocating for pre-frail and frail older adults, thus making a meaningful difference in their quality of life and health outcomes.
AB - Americans aged 85 years or older are the fastest growing population segment in the U.S. Many older adults have multiple chronic degenerative diseases and other illnesses. These conditions can take a toll on their ability to perform basic activities of daily living, frequently resulting in a poorer quality of life, frailty, and increased disability. Today there are no common, well-accepted guidelines for the prevention or treatment of frailty. Frailty, like obesity and diabetes, is a condition with a multiplicity of causes. Thus a multi-factorial approach—including nutrition—is needed for its prevention and treatment. Internationally, healthcare systems are establishing multidisciplinary protocols on frailty; in Europe, dietitians are taking a very active role in the development and implementation of these protocols. We believe that registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the U.S. have the responsibility today to take a similar leading role; becoming integral to nutritional screening, intervention, and advocating for pre-frail and frail older adults, thus making a meaningful difference in their quality of life and health outcomes.
UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/hp-research/article/1333/viewcontent/Wilkinson_Frailty_JAND_final_20revised_20version_20prior_20to_20publication.pdf
U2 - 10.1016/j.jand.2016.06.367
DO - 10.1016/j.jand.2016.06.367
M3 - Article
SN - 2212-2672
VL - 0
JO - Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
JF - Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
IS - 0
ER -