Enhancing Care for Older Adults through Culturally Inclusive Nutrition
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Faculty Mentor
Rie Kobayashi
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Social Work
Abstract
As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, the aging populations face significant challenges in maintaining proper nutrition. Barriers such as limited access to culturally appropriate foods, financial constraints, language barriers, and social isolation often prevent older adults from meeting adequate dietary needs. Without considering cultural dietary needs, aging immigrants are at a higher risk of malnutrition and diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Programs have demonstrated the importance of nutrition services in improving food security, reducing social isolation, and supporting the overall health of older adults with limited mobility and financial resources. Culturally inclusive nutrition, which integrates traditional dietary practices and cultural food preferences, is essential for improving health outcomes in aging communities. Through a literature review and insights gained from the On Aging 2025 conference, this presentation explores current meal services and the challenges of providing culturally inclusive and affordable nutrition options. Based on these findings, Flavors Uplifting Elder Lives (FUEL) is proposed as a model designed to provide individuals receiving long-term care services with access to culturally appropriate and sustainable nutrition support. By fostering cultural awareness, education, and community-based interventions, FUEL aims to address the specific dietary needs of older adults and enhance their overall well-being.
Recommended Citation
Muzatko, Keshia L. and Shin, Nara, "Enhancing Care for Older Adults through Culturally Inclusive Nutrition" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 3.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/asy_2024/asy_2025/3
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Presentation slides
Enhancing Care for Older Adults through Culturally Inclusive Nutrition
As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, the aging populations face significant challenges in maintaining proper nutrition. Barriers such as limited access to culturally appropriate foods, financial constraints, language barriers, and social isolation often prevent older adults from meeting adequate dietary needs. Without considering cultural dietary needs, aging immigrants are at a higher risk of malnutrition and diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Programs have demonstrated the importance of nutrition services in improving food security, reducing social isolation, and supporting the overall health of older adults with limited mobility and financial resources. Culturally inclusive nutrition, which integrates traditional dietary practices and cultural food preferences, is essential for improving health outcomes in aging communities. Through a literature review and insights gained from the On Aging 2025 conference, this presentation explores current meal services and the challenges of providing culturally inclusive and affordable nutrition options. Based on these findings, Flavors Uplifting Elder Lives (FUEL) is proposed as a model designed to provide individuals receiving long-term care services with access to culturally appropriate and sustainable nutrition support. By fostering cultural awareness, education, and community-based interventions, FUEL aims to address the specific dietary needs of older adults and enhance their overall well-being.
