Aging Comes in All Colors and Cultures: Celebrating Diversity in Food, Nutrition and Maturity

This session introduces the concept of aging across cultures. The speakers will review Western and Eastern cultures in areas including age-related nutritional needs, social relationships, belief systems and cognition. The speakers will review cultural values around aging and the implications these may have to dietetic counseling and lifestyle change.

Internalized cultural values can become goals that guide adult development. When individuals from different backgrounds each pursue their own goals, considering age and cultural differences, healthy aging can occur. If you are interested in refining your knowledge and counseling skills to consider diverse individual needs that impact our aging population, this session is for you!

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.0

Performance Indicators

• 12.1.1 Advocates for and promotes food and nutrition programs and resources to address issues of food insecurity, nutritional health and overall health and wellness.
• 2.3.2 Considers and respects the opinions, creativity, values, beliefs and perspectives of others.
• 1.7.5 Applies knowledge of cultural foods, religious traditions, eating patterns and food and nutrition trends.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the various symbolic meanings that can be assigned to food based upon one's culture
• Analyze communication strategies to address diverse cultural aspects of dietary change in mature adults
• Design food choices pertaining to the cultural identity and self-identity of the aging individual

Moderator

• LeGreta Hudson

Speakers

• Sue Linja
• SeAnne Waite