Healthy Aging DPG

Healthy Aging 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 HA's Web Site at www.hadpg.org/

The Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group members are employed in community nutrition programs, government agencies, assisted living, university settings, hospitals, private practice, and long-term-care facilities. The Spectrum, Healthy Aging's newsletter, continues to be a popular benefit.  Professional development activities include two CPE articles in the Spectrum and two webinars on topics of current interest to the membership. 

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

Vision Statement: Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group members are the most valued source of food, nutrition and wellness information and services for older adults. 

HA Officers

  • Chair: Willa Thomas, MS, RD, LD
  • Chair-elect: Dian Weddle, PhD, RD, FADA 
  • Past Chair: Adele T. Huls, PhD, LMNT, RD 
  • Secretary: Barbara Estrada, MS, RD
  • Treasurer: Elaine S. Smith, MS, RD

Membership Total 
1665

Member Benefits

  • Quarterly newsletter with continuing professional education opportunities
  • Continuing professional education opportunities at ADA’s annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)
  • Member award opportunities
  • Member listserve

Newsletter Name and Unique Features 
Healthy Aging has gone green. At least three of our quarterly newsletter issues will be available electronically. The electronic issues will be located in the member section of the Healthy Aging website.  The Spectrum is the quarterly publication with reproducible nutrition education fact sheets as inserts.  Some of the issues contain CPE opportunities.  Subscriptions are available for individuals not eligible for ADA membership for $20.00 per year payable to ADA/HA DPG #11. Contact Elaine Smith at: 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/HA DPG #11. Contact Elaine Smith at:

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 HA members only) — for conference/workshop attendance
  • Distinguished Service Award (for HA 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 HA members only) — for presentations at professional conferences/workshops
  • Best Practice Award (for HA 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 Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group has an annual meeting/reception/continuing professional education event that is held in conjunction with ADA’s annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE).  Healthy Aging has a formalized networking relationship with the Meals on Wheels Association of America and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs. 

Member Initiative
Healthy Aging supports members by providing information on the nutritional care of older adults though the newsletter, The Spectrum, webinars, and member awards and research opportunities. 

Policy Initiative
Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group was represented on ADA's Task Force on Aging as well as provided technical expertise in the ADA recommendations for the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.  Healthy Aging representatives regularly participate Public Policy Workshop.  Articles on legislative initiatives routinely appear in the newsletter, The Spectrum.