Jennie Merritt, M.S., R.D.N., L.D., D.P.P.L.C
Jennie Merritt is a Registered Dietitian with nearly three decades of experience specializing in long-term care, clinical nutrition, and nutrition education for older adults. After exploring several academic paths during college, she discovered her passion for nutrition through a class that immediately resonated with her strengths and interests. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and went on to build a career centered on improving the quality of life for aging populations. Early in her clinical training, Jennie realized that traditional hospital settings, with their short patient stays, did not provide the meaningful, long-term relationships she valued. Instead, she found her calling in long-term care, where she could work closely with residents and families over time.
Today, Jennie works as a full-time consultant dietitian serving multiple long-term care and assisted living facilities across Florida. Her expertise focuses primarily on older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia, helping facilities maintain regulatory compliance while supporting residents’ nutritional well-being and quality of life. She collaborates closely with nurses, caregivers, and interdisciplinary teams to provide nutrition assessments, care planning, education, and family guidance. Known for her compassionate and practical approach, Jennie values building trust with families during some of the most difficult healthcare transitions they face.
One of Jennie’s proudest accomplishments is launching the Nursing Home Guide, an independent healthcare platform designed to help families navigate the complexities of long-term care. Recognizing that many existing resources are heavily sales-driven or difficult to access, she created a free and educational space where families can find reliable information without pressure or hidden agendas. In addition to her consulting work, Jennie regularly shares evidence-based nutrition education on topics ranging from dementia care and appetite support to functional foods and healthy aging. Across every aspect of her career, her mission remains consistent: to provide compassionate guidance, empower families with knowledge, and improve the lives of older adults through thoughtful nutrition care.
• Registered Dietitian
• Certificate in Gerontological Studies from Claude Pepper Institute
• Certified National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach
• Florida State University
Masters of Science, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
• Florida State University
Bachelor of Scince, Nutrition and Fitness
What do you attribute your success to?
I've been so fortunate to work with really great nurses. As a dietitian, you can work in many different settings and many different fields, but I have been so privileged to work with really excellent nurses. They've taught me what they do, and it makes me better at what I do to work with them. Nursing and people that do direct care are just absolutely incredible. I also think it's the combination of hard science and working with people that has made this field so rewarding for me. I took forever to get my bachelor's degree because I couldn't pick anything and changed majors a million times, but once I finally took a nutrition class and got an A without having to study, I realized maybe I'd be good at this. That's how I got into it, and I've loved working with older adults and their families ever since.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do what you love
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I work 6 and 7 days a week because I love what I do, helping families navigate long-term care and working with older adults. When I do have time outside of work, I very much enjoy being in nature, especially at the Gulf beaches and just being out around blue water. I'm originally from Florida, and we were away for some time up in Virginia, which was a great time, but I was very excited to be back. I'm almost like a tourist in my home again, rediscovering the beauty of where I live.