ASSESSING HEALTH-STATUS IN THE ELDERLY - THE NUTRITION SCREENING INITIATIVE

The recent dramatic growth in the population aged 65 and over is proje cted to continue well into the 21st century While improved health stat us of most aging Americans is also expected, such is not the case in certain vulnerable subgroups at risk for poor health. This includes ol der women,. minority groups; those aged 85 and above; older persons wi th limited economic resources, those isolated from family and friends; and older persons with impaired physical, cognitive, or emotional sta tus. These factors, plus the cost implications of caring for a rapidly aging population, provided the impetus for the development of the Nut rition Screening Initiative (NSI). Established in 1990, the goal of th e NSI is to promote the incorporation 4 routine nutrition screening an d nutritional care into America's health services delivery system. The NSI has devoted its activities toward increasing the awareness of nut ritional factors as they relate to the older population.