[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MALNUTRITION AWARENESS WEEK

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of this week 
as Malnutrition Awareness Week.
  Malnutrition Awareness Week is a multi-organizational, multipronged 
campaign that aims to educate healthcare professionals on how to 
identify and treat malnutrition, encourage patients to discuss their 
nutrition status with their healthcare providers, and increase 
awareness of nutrition's role in patient recovery.
  While we know malnutrition can severely impact patients' health 
outcomes, we do not currently know the full extent of malnutrition 
plaguing our senior population. This is because national health surveys 
and indicators do not include screening measures for malnutrition. 
National surveys and indicators are crucial not only for identifying 
key issues, such as malnutrition, but also for shaping public health 
programs and guiding healthcare professionals. By fully understanding 
the health problem, we can refine these tools to better address health 
issues affecting older adults.
  Similarly, older adults and their families need guidance on how to 
meet seniors' unique nutrition needs. National dietary guidelines, 
developed every 5 years by the Departments of Health and Human Services 
and of Agriculture, provide valuable information to the public in 
regard to a healthy diet. These guidelines are examples of Federal 
resources that could be tailored to reflect the nutritional needs of 
specific populations, such as older adults.
  Since malnutrition can lead to greater risk of chronic disease, 
frailty, disability, and increases in health care costs, it is 
important to properly identify cases and provide adequate 
interventions, even as people transition across care settings. To 
strive toward this goal, we must consider options within the healthcare 
system and our Federal programs to improve care and nutritional support 
for older adults.
  This week is an important opportunity to remember that the 
nutritional challenges facing people of all ages, and I hope my 
colleagues will join me in working to understand and address these 
challenges.

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