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ForwardSymposium Session: Lifestyle Medicine and the Older Adult
This presentation explores the powerful intersection of lifestyle medicine and geriatrics and how coordinated evidence-based behavioral and nutrition interventions can improve outcomes for older adults. With over 95% of U.S. older adults living with at least one chronic condition—and multimorbidity rates expected to rise by 91% over the next 30 years—it is essential to address health behaviors as part of team-based comprehensive care.
Participants will learn how lifestyle medicine, a growing medical specialty, is being integrated into clinical settings to prevent, manage, and potentially reverse chronic diseases. The session will cover comprehensive assessments tailored to older adults, key measures of successful aging, and emerging trends in geriatrics.
Attendees will also explore current research, review case studies, clarify complementary roles, and develop collaborative strategies for implementing lifestyle medicine interventions that support sustainable behavior change and improved health outcomes in older adults.
This is not a webinar or course for purchase - this is a module for credit claiming for our 2026 Spring Symposium attendees and cannot be purchased or taken by non-attendees. These sessions are exclusive to our Symposium; however, the topics may be revisited in the future in the form of a webinar or self-study course.
Learning Objectives
After completing this continuing education activity, health care professionals will be better able to:
- Identify valid measures of successful aging and evaluate how lifestyle interventions contribute to improved health outcomes in aging populations.
- Examine current trends and emerging research in geriatrics related to lifestyle medicine that influence the prevention and management of chronic disease in older adults.
- Discuss how a comprehensive geriatrics and lifestyle medicine assessment can identify modifiable health risks and support individualized care planning for older adults’ needs.
- Explore key studies highlighting healthy lifestyle-related outcomes for older adults.
- Collaborate with physicians, registered dietitians, and other members of the healthcare team to incorporate lifestyle medicine strategies into the coordinated care plans for older adults and the treatment of multiple types of geriatric syndromes.
Additional Information
Melissa Bernstein, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, DipACLM, FACLM, FNAP, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine. As an international speaker and educator, she is passionate about educating students and healthcare professionals on the importance of food as medicine for improving health outcomes and quality of life; for which she was recognized as one of Today’s Dietitians ‘Top 10 Dietitians Making a Difference’ in 2025. Dr. Bernstein has co-authored 6 nutrition textbooks, and has contributed, authored, and reviewed textbook chapters and peer-reviewed journal publications. She participates on numerous advisory and review boards including the board of editors for the Nutrition Care Manual and the Primary Care Advisory Board for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and nutrition editor for the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. A former member of the Board of Directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr Bernstein continues to actively serve on several committees including as chair of the Education Committee and the Nutrition Messaging Task Force.
Kelly Freeman, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, DipACLM, FACLM, is a board-certified adult/geriatric primary care nurse practitioner and the Director of Workforce Development at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Previous roles include lieutenant in the United States Navy Nurse Corps, case manager, wound consultant, legal nurse consultant, adult/geriatric primary care NP, and university faculty. She attended the University of Nebraska as an undergraduate and received a master’s degree as a primary care geriatric nurse practitioner at Indiana University. She holds two post-graduate certificates from Indiana University in public health and nursing education and is a Ph.D. candidate in Health Policy. She has co-authored three book chapters and has co-written publications on lifestyle medicine reimbursement, shared medical appointments, provider burnout, well-being, and cost savings. She is both a Diplomate and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Disclosures:
The faculty and planners of this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
An “ineligible company” includes any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
In support of improving patient care, Great Valley Publishing Company is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This activity will also award credit for dietetics (CDR CPEU).
Dietitians: RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Log. Sphere and Competency selection is at the learner’s discretion.
Social Workers:
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Great Valley Publishing Company is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course will receive 1.25 general continuing education credits.
Interprofessional:
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.5 IPCE credits for learning and change.
Available Credit
- 1.25 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.