Healthy Aging DPG <i>(Formerly Gerontological Nutritionists DPG)</i>

Healthy Aging DPG (Formerly Gerontological Nutritionists DPG)

Practitioners who provide and manage nutrition programs and services to older adults in a variety of settings — community, home, healthcare facilities and education and research facilities.



Dietetic Practice Group #11
Visit GN's Web Site at www.gndpg.org/

The Gerontological Nutritionists dietetic practice group members are employed in hospitals, assisted living and long-term-care facilities, government agencies, community nutrition programs, private practice and university settings. The GN newsletter continues to be a popular benefit. This practice group has developed a self-study module on Parkinson's disease and is working on other educational projects.

Mission Statement: Leading the future of dietetics in healthy aging.

Vision Statement: GN DPG members are the most valued source of food, nutrition and wellness information and services for older adults.

GN Officers

  • Chair: Adele T. Huls, PhD, LMNT, RD
  • Chair-elect: Willa C. Thomas, MS, RD, LD 
  • Past Chair: Cheryl Meskus, RD
  • Secretary: Mary E. Herrstrom, RD, LDN
  • Treasurer: Elaine S. Smith, MS, RD

Membership Total
2,063

Newsletter Name and Unique Features
Gerontological Nutritionists is the quarterly publication with subscriptions and reproducible nutrition education fact sheets as inserts. Subscriptions are available for individuals not eligible for ADA membership for $20.00 per year payable to ADA/GN DPG #11. Contact Elaine Smith at:

Publications Offered Through ADA
Self-assessment module - Parkinson's Disease: Assessing and Managing Unique Nutrition Needs (1999).

Quality Management
"Standards of Practice for Gerontological Nutritionists," Journal of the American Dietetic Association (July 1999).

ADA Positions Involvement

  • "Nutrition, aging and the continuum of care"
  • "Issues in feeding the terminally ill adult"
  • Liberalized diets for older adults in long-term care

Awards, Grants, Scholarships and Stipends

  • Joncier Greene Continuing Education Support (for GN members only) — for conference/workshop attendance
  • Distinguished Service Award (for GN members only) — for exemplary service and leadership
  • Nutrition Education Materials Development grant — for development of nutrition education materials for older adults
  • JoAnn Prophet Speaker Stipends (for GN members only) — for presentations at professional conferences/workshops
  • Best Practice Award (for GN members only) — to recognize outstanding and innovative gerontological practice and communicate those practices to the members
  • Student Grant Awards — provides funding related to food, nutrition, health and wellness of older adults

Networking, Business Meetings, Continuing Professional Education Events, Receptions:
The GN Executive Committee is updating their DPG strategic plan. Enhancement and Promotion of ADA's Strategic Initiatives and Campaigns

Member Initiative
Many of the above mentioned products, services and events support ADA's Member Initiative. An audiovisual lending library is available. Contact Kay Bishirjian at kbishirjian@comcast.net.

Policy Initiative
Participated on ADA's Task Force on Aging. Provided technical expertise in the ADA recommendations for the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. GN representatives attended the Public Policy Workshop, and articles on legislative and reimbursement issues routinely appear in Gerontological Nutritionists.

Older Americans Campaign
Many of the above mentioned products, services and events support ADA's Nutrition and Health for Older Americans Campaign.

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