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Food Insecurity & Malnutrition Webinar Tip Sheet

Note: The following information is from a March 2021 ACL webinar series, Nutrition, 

Socialization, and Health & Well-Being. To view the webinars, visit acl.gov/SeniorNutrition.

Purpose: Understand what malnutrition and food insecurity are, the root causes of malnutrition, 

and how to help combat malnutrition and food insecurity 

National Senior Nutrition Program 

The National Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) is 

funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA). The 

program provides older adults with meals and 

nutrition services and promotes socialization and 

health and well-being. Learn more about the SNP. 

What is Malnutrition? 

Malnutrition is a medical condition that involves an 

imbalance in a person’s nutritional health. It may 

be related to either under-nutrition or overnutrition. Malnutrition often goes undetected and leads to an increased risk of illness, falls, and 

poor quality of life. 

Malnutrition in the Aging Population 

Malnutrition is a contributing cause of illness and death among older adults. One in two older 

adults are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished. The OAA authorizes health 

screenings to include screening for malnutrition. SNPs can then refer individuals to additional 

services, resources, and programs to improve their nutritional health. 

Presentation Key Points 

• Senior Nutrition Programs should look at the whole person and can identify needs or 

barriers of the individual and root causes of their malnutrition. 

• When talking about access to food, reframe the conversation to include access to 

nourishing food rather than just access to food. 

• To help combat malnutrition, screening, accessibility, education, and program 

intervention should be implemented. 

• Perseverance and partnerships pay off.

• Visibility, credibility, and involvement in policy efforts are important for success. 

• Dedication to nutrition security for everyone is vital to successfully address malnutrition 

and food insecurity.

• Recognition of the importance of nutrition security is growing, which gives rise to new 

challenges and new opportunities. 

Root Causes of Malnutrition 

Root causes are underlying factors that cause an issue. Often, there may be more than one root 

cause. The root causes of malnutrition lead to eating less food, lower absorption of the food that 

is eaten, or increased calorie needs. Identifying a person’s root causes of malnutrition helps 

determine the best way to assist them and promote their overall health. 
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Determinants of Malnutrition in Aged Persons (DoMAP) Model

This Determinants of Malnutrition in Aged Persons (DoMAP) framework diagram, 

described in detail in the journal Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, illustrates many potential 

factors that may contribute to malnutrition. These factors can be generalized as: 

• Level 1 – Core issues which lead directly to malnutrition (e.g., low food intake, increased 

nutritional requirements)

• Level 2 – Cause Level 1 determinants (e.g., lack of food, difficulty with 

shopping/preparing meals/eating) 

• Level 3 – Cause Level 2 determinants (e.g., pain, dementia, poor dentition)

• Level 4 – Cause Level 3 determinants (e.g., frailty, older age, age-related functional 

decline)

“Enhanced” DETERMINE Checklist to Address Malnutrition 

The DETERMINE checklist was created to screen for nutritional risk. This screening checklist is 

used throughout the United States, including by OAA organizations. 

The Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. has developed an “Enhanced” 

DETERMINE checklist for SNPs and other community-based organizations. This tool can

identify root causes that contribute to malnutrition and help staff connect individuals with 

additional programs and services to lower their nutritional risk. 

Food Security vs. Nutrition Security 

Food security is having reliable access to a sufficient quantity 

of affordable, nutritious foods. Nutrition security is having 

reliable access to a sufficient quality of affordable, nutritious 

foods that promote well-being and prevent disease. Food 

programs that address food security tend to focus only on

quantity and may not provide nutritious foods or nutrition 

screening with appropriate referrals. 

Medically Tailored Meals 

Medically tailored meals (MTM) are meals approved by a 

registered dietitian that reflect appropriate dietary therapy 

based on evidence-based practice guidelines. MTM

programs, including Project Open Hand, target conditions 

such as HIV, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, 

and end-stage kidney disease. Studies show MTMs reduce 

health care costs, lower the rate of hospitalizations and 

nursing home admissions, and improve control of blood sugar 

in diabetes. 

Partnerships 

By partnering with other organizations, SNPs can help fight food insecurity and malnutrition. 

Partnerships help to bring together consistent data, shared best practices, and collaboration on 

program issues or ideas. 
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Some examples of partnerships include: 

• Federal Government: Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• National Organizations: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Council on Aging, 

Defeat Malnutrition Today, Food Research & Action Council, Feeding America. 

• State Government: State Departments of Aging and Disability, Public Health, Veterans 

Affairs, Social Services, Emergency Management, Agriculture and Health Care Services, 

Legislators as Champions. 

• City and County: Departments of Aging and Disability, Public Health. 

• Food companies, suppliers.

• Philanthropies. 

• Universities (including Cooperative Extension and SNAP-Ed), health care plans, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, hospitals, food banks/food pantries, 

volunteer organizations. 

Definitions 

Food Insecurity: When a person is without reliable access to enough affordable, culturally 

appropriate, nutritious food. 

Food Security: When a person has reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, 

culturally appropriate, nutritious food. 

Health Screening: A process that uses questionnaires or procedures to help identify health 

risks. 

Malnutrition: A medical condition that is diagnosed if two or more of the following are present: 

weight loss, inadequate food intake, reduced body fat, reduced muscle, reduced handgrip 

strength, and/or swelling due to excess fluid retention.

Malnutrition Screening: Tools (e.g., questionnaires, procedures) used to help assess a 

person’s risk for malnutrition.

Medically Tailored Meals: Meals approved by a registered dietitian that reflect appropriate 

dietary therapy based on evidence-based practice guidelines. 

Nutrition Screening: Tools (e.g., questionnaires, procedures) used to help assess a person’s 

nutritional status. Often used to identify food insecurity or risk of malnutrition. 

Nutrition Security: When a person regularly has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food 

that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle. 

OAA: Older Americans Act

Common Warning Signs of Malnutrition: Muscle weakness, fatigue, increased illness or 

infections, emotional irritability or depression, unplanned weight loss, falls, and decreased 

appetite. 
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Resources and Tools

• Nutrition and Aging Resource Center

• Validated Nutritional Risk Screening Tools

• Malnutrition Awareness Week (October 4-8, 2021)

• Mozaffarian D, Fleischhacker S, Andrés JR. Prioritizing Nutrition Security in the 

US. JAMA. 2021;325(16):1605–1606. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.1915

• Stepping Up Your Nutrition Community-based Workshop

• Eat Well, Age Well, Eat Well, Care Well

• Addressing Food Insecurity & Malnutrition in Older Adults in the Age of COVID-19 

• Malnutrition in Community Living Older Adults: A Toolkit for Area Agencies on Aging

• Medically Tailored Meals research

• National Food is Medicine Coalition

This material was developed by ACL Intern Mackenzie Brown, Tufts University, 2021.