The Integrated Senior Foundation (ISF) has rolled out its Nutritional Food Sensitivity Awareness Program, available free of charge to residents of ISF-owned communities and Insight Living managed properties, such as Ativo Senior Living of Santa Clarita. In collaboration with Precision Point and with support from Integrated Senior AI (ISAI), the program provides a proactive, data-driven approach to supporting senior health and safety.
Food sensitivities aren’t limited to childhood—nearly half of U.S. adults with food allergies developed at least one in adulthood, with prevalence in seniors estimated at ≈8.8–9% [1–3]. Additionally, up to 65% of Americans aged 65 and older take multiple prescriptions, increasing the chance of food–drug interactions or cofactors like NSAIDs, which account for as many as 25% of food-induced anaphylaxis cases [4–5]. At the same time, 36% of Americans experience lactose malabsorption, and around 1% live with undiagnosed celiac disease [6–7]. These statistics highlight why proactive testing is important to distinguish true allergies from intolerances, personalize diets, and enhance safety for older adults.
Through this initiative, ISF is making testing simple and free for all eligible residents.
Why It Matters Now
Residents may wonder, “Why test now if I’ve always eaten the same foods?” The reality is that sensitivities can change. Age, health conditions, and medications may all influence reactions. What once was mild may become disruptive, appearing as fatigue, skin irritation, digestive problems, or breathing issues—often mistaken as “normal aging.” Identifying these hidden sensitivities can significantly improve daily comfort and overall quality of life.
Research shows that certain medications can make food sensitivities more severe. NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin increase intestinal permeability, while beta-blockers can reduce the effectiveness of emergency epinephrine during severe reactions [8–9]. With polypharmacy and immune system changes common in older adults, IgE testing becomes an essential step for safer and more effective care.
Resident Benefits
IgE testing is widely recognized as the gold standard for identifying immune reactions to food allergens and can uncover sensitivities that might otherwise be overlooked [3].
Residents receive a straightforward report outlining their reactions to 88 common foods, categorized into:
- No Limitation
- Rotate
- Eliminate
For many, this brings long-awaited clarity and solutions to persistent symptoms. Over time, ISF plans to integrate these results with its meal tracking system to further refine dining services and minimize exposure to triggers.
Expert Perspectives
Through its collaboration with Precision Point Diagnostics, ISF provides a validated IgE test that is simple, private, and reliable. These insights help residents and care teams fine-tune diets and medications for better safety and comfort.
“Residents sometimes assume new symptoms are just a natural part of aging,” said Bryan Ziebart, CEO of Insight Living and ISF partner. “With this program, we can uncover hidden sensitivities and give residents information to improve their daily well-being.”
Yasaman Fatapour, PhD, added: “Accurate IgE data for seniors taking multiple prescriptions is vital. It helps clinicians identify allergy risks, personalize treatments, and adapt dining plans to reduce triggers, ultimately enhancing safety.”
Regional Nurse Monica Chapman, RN, BSN, remarked: “I’m proud to support free food sensitivity testing. It allows us to create individualized meal and medication strategies using real data. Even inactive ingredients can cause problems—knowing sensitivities helps us prevent unnecessary side effects and focus on keeping residents healthy.”
Technology in Action
ISAI powers the integration and analysis that makes results actionable. By combining Precision Point’s testing with ISAI’s systems, ISF ensures that every resident at Ativo Senior Living of Santa Clarita benefits from personalized, data-driven care strategies across assisted living and memory care settings.
All residents are encouraged to participate in this free program by contacting their Executive Director.
Interested in Learning More?
Contact us today to learn how this free food sensitivity program can enhance comfort and wellness.
References
1. Wang, J., & Sampson, H. A. (2019). Food allergy in older adults: epidemiology and challenges. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 19(3), 210–216. doi:
10.1097/ACI.0000000000000520
2. Warren, C. M., Jiang, J., & Gupta, R. S. (2021). Epidemiology and burden of adult-onset food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract, 9(4), 1656–1665. doi:
10.1016/j.jaip.2020.11.005
3. Gupta, R. S., et al. (2019). Prevalence and severity of food allergies among US adults. JAMA Netw Open, 2(1):e185630. doi:
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630
4. Kantor, E. D., et al. (2015). Trends in prescription drug use among adults in the United States from 1999–2012. JAMA, 314(17):1818–1831. doi:
10.1001/jama.2015.13766
5. Worm, M., et al. (2018). NSAIDs as cofactors in food-induced anaphylaxis. Allergy, 73(8):1561–1572. doi:
10.1111/all.13461
6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Lactose intolerance. Reviewed March 2023.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance
7. Rubio-Tapia, A., et al. (2012). The prevalence of celiac disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol, 107(10):1538–1544. doi:
10.1038/ajg.2012.219
8. Maseda, D., & Ricciotti, E. (2020). NSAID–Gut Microbiota Interactions. Front Pharmacol, 11:1153. doi:
10.3389/fphar.2020.01153
9. Devlin, H. (2022). Food hypersensitivity in adults much more common than thought. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/19/food-hypersensitivity-adults-more-common-uk
