Name
L02 - Clinics Helping Adults Thrive (CHAT) - an Innovative Connection between Rural and Charitable Clinics and Senior Meal Programs in Tennessee
Date & Time
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Location Name
Grand B (4th Floor)
Description

Learn about this newly funded program through Innovations in Nutrition to connect adults age 60+ with a diagnosed mental illness to their local senior meal. This student-integrated program is exploring community connections and evaluating effectiveness in improving nutrition, reducing isolation, and achieving wellbeing. Preliminary results from community needs assessment and collaborative relationship development will be shared.

Speakers
Laura Trull, PhD, MSW
Whitney Bignell, PhD, RDN, LD/N
Jesse Gilreath, DSW, LCSW
Mary Jo Hedrick, PhD
Erin Mauck
Jodi Southerland
Co-Authors
Cory Whitfield, Jodi Southerland, Erin Mauck, Tonia Collie, Amber Ball, Kellie Scott,
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Geriatrics, Rural, Social determinants of health or SDoH
Session Type
Concurrent
Identify key barriers and facilitators affecting congregate meal participation among older adults with mental illness.
Describe the interdisciplinary, trauma‑informed strategies planned to enhance nutrition, social connection, and behavioral health.
Explain early outcomes and best practices emerging from pilot-site implementation to improve senior nutrition engagement.

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Alkon, A. H., Block, D., Moore, K., Gillis, C., DiNuccio, N., & Chavez, N. (2013). Foodways of the urban poor. Geoforum, 48, 126–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.04.021

Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352

Khan, H. T. A., Addo, K. M., & Findlay, H. (2024). Public Health Challenges and Responses to the Growing Ageing Populations. In Public Health Challenges (Vol. 3, Issue 3). John Wiley and Sons Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.213

Amarya, S., Singh, K., & Sabharwal, M. (2015). Changes during aging and their association with malnutrition. In Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics (Vol. 6, Issue 3, pp. 78–84). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcgg.2015.05.003