Ithaca College

Rachel Klumpp, '14, a speech-language pathology major and aging studies minor, received in October the State Society on Aging NY award for best undergraduate paper, "Nutrition Programs and Policies for Elders." Although extenuating circumstances precluded her being able to attend the annual conference in Saratoga Springs, the award included free registration and hotel accommodations. Congratulations, Rachel! Rachel's abstract of her award-winning paper is below:

"In the United States approximately 4.9 million elders struggle with inadequate nutrition. Malnutrition is associated with five out the ten leading causes of death in older adults. Elders with inadequate nutrition visit physicians and hospitals more frequently, are admitted longer, and have healthcare costs that are $2,000-$10,000 higher than properly nourished elders. In an effort to combat the devastating effects of insufficient nutrition in the elderly population, the Elderly Nutrition Program was established. The main programs strive to provide elders with at least a third of their dietary needs through congregate and home delivered meals. In addition to providing food and nutritional supplements, participants can also receive health screenings, nutrition counseling, and shopping assistance. The program provides elders with an opportunity to socialize, engage in their community, and access other resources and opportunities available to help them improve their quality of live and overall well being."