Nutrition Screening Benefits Elders and Society
Professor David J. Demko, PhD
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
Extra-ordinary advances in life-expectancy prove that medical science is a powerful health-enhancing tool. In the span of a century (1900 to 2000), the retirement stage of life in the U.S. increased one-thousand percent, from 14 months to 15 years. Adding years to life is one thing. Adding life to those years is quite another. Seniors who live longer AND healthier, can enjoy retirement and continue to make positive contributions to society as wage-earners and volunteers. That's why new Medicare coverage for the nutrition screening of elders is very good news. Now, more than ever, doctors and dieticians will be encouraged to monitor the nutrition status of geriatric patients. This positive step in preventative health care will produce a new senior trend, an increased quality of life for elders at a great cost benefit to society. Afterall, an ounce of prevention is ... more cost-effective than a pound of medical intervention.
"Many older Americans are at higher risk of suffering from poor nutrition, and a
poor diet can dramatically jeopardize their health," says Senator Larry Craig, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. "I encourage doctors to discuss nutrition with their patients, and if your doctor doesn't mention nutrition, I encourage all seniors to ask their doctor for advice on what to eat and what to avoid."
In the past, a lack of Medicare coverage prevented some consumers from receiving nutritional guidance. But effective January 2002, a change in the Medicare law provides coverage for medical nutrition therapy for beneficiaries with diabetes or kidney disease. Seniors can now receive that type of counseling from certified dieticians. AgeVenture News Service also recommends that seniors seek counseling from "certified dieticians" because the title of "nutritionist" is not widely regulated. As a result, consumers cannot be certain about the quality of dietary counseling from anyone other than a registered dietician.
"By integrating nutrition counseling into the routine health care experience of older Americans, we have an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people, and the chance to
save the country potentially billions of dollars." Studies by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) have found that every dollar spent on nutrition screening and intervention saves at least $3.25.
"A three to one return on investment is significant, especially when you consider that we spend 99 percent of Medicare dollars on the treatment of chronic conditions. The use of nutrition in the treatment of long-term illnesses could achieve a significant cost savings for taxpayers," Craig says.
To help physicians and seniors better understand the nutritional needs of those suffering from chronic diseases, a recently released guidebook is available on line at the American Academy of Family Physicians website, located at www.aafp.org/nsi/
Printed versions of the booklets will soon be distributed to doctors nationwide. Information for senior consumers is available from the American Dietetic Association on the Internet at: www.eatright.org
See related articles in AgeVenture archives.
Vitamin C Linked to Reduced Stroke Risk
Vitamin E Helps Heart in Type II Diabetics
Vitamin Deficient Elders Risk Hip Fracture
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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