Panel summary : Addressing nutritional risk among older adults in Ontario

This summary highlights the views and experiences of panel participants about: the underlying problem; three possible options to address the problem; and potential barriers and facilitators to implement these options. [...] Participants reflected on three options (among many) for addressing nutritional risk among older adults in Ontario: strengthening older adults’ capacity to make healthier nutritional choices (option 1); improving the identification and support of older adults at high nutritional risk (option 2); and enhancing the coordination, integration and monitoring of services for older adults at nutritional [...] Participants then turned to two key factors that could facilitate efforts to bring about change: 1) making family physicians the most responsible practitioners with the overall responsibility for directing and coordinating the care and management of older adults at nutritional risk; and 2) redirecting our efforts to reach the most vulnerable older adults. [...] Participants also discussed at length the need to strengthen the economic security of older adults to ensure that they have the capacity to buy nutritional food, which they often perceive as more expensive. [...] Two values-related themes emerged during the discussion that were identified as being important for guiding efforts to enhance the coordination, integration and monitoring of services for older adults at nutritional risk: fairness (in the coordination, integration and monitoring of services across different population groups); and collaboration (among patients, providers and organizations with