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AGING, NUTRITION, AND THE CONTINUUM OF HEALTH CARE
Author(s) -
Watkin Donald M.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1977.tb19330.x
Subject(s) - administration (probate law) , annals , citation , human services , welfare , health care , gerontology , library science , medicine , political science , law , history , classics , computer science
The interrelations of aging, nutrition, and the continuum of health care have been discussed in terms of four issues, all of which focus on how to convince modern societies that meaningful attention to the triad is not only desirable but, in the light of the alternative, practically mandatory. The action steps required consist by and large of convincing societal leadership who in turn can convince their followers that meaningful attention to the aging-nutrition-health triad can produce better lives for all. The attention must be directed at all human life from conception to death. Properly applied throughout life, the attention can dramatically decrease the misery and waste currently imposed by life-style diseases and disabilities. To highlight the tangible and appeal to the pecuniary qualities of mankind, attention has been focused particuarly on the cost-effectiveness of such attention. The fractionation of the triad's components into individual units each furthered by its own proponents is not only wasteful of scarce resources but dangerous to individuals and their societies. Professionally trained scientists concerned with nutrition are keys to the catalysis of societal comprehension of the triad's interrelations. They have the education, training, experience and contacts at all levels to lead the leaders who in turn will convince societies worldwide that integration of aging, nutrition, and the continuum of health care at all phases of the life cycle is desirable, mandatory, effective, and economically sound.