Health promotion for positive ageing The Netwell Centre The Netwell Centre is a core research centre within the School of Health Sci- ences in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), County Louth. The Netwell Centre special- ise in research and commu- nity development work, promoting and supporting positive ageing. Our pro- jects range from software and hardware solutions to support older people to ‘age-in-place’, to community development initiatives such as the RESPECT pro- ject which promotes an inclusive, tolerant society. The findings from our re- search projects help inform policy and practice at re- gional, national and interna- tional level. We are a cross-border leader with key strategic partnership in Ireland and internationally. The Respect Project Re ach out to s upport e thnic diversit y (RESPECT) is supported by the EU Peace III Programme, awarded Louth Peace and Reconciliation Partnership. RESPECT aims to ensure that care workers are treated with fairness and dignity at work and in soci- ety and to foster peace and reconciliation through en- hanced cross-community understanding. In a previous workshop we brought care workers from diverse cultural background together to explore their support needs. Two main areas identified for support involved food preparation, and lifestyle factors. This newsletter reports on a follow-up initiative with care workers on 10 th November 2010, which focused on health promotion. Home Support Workers Home Support Workers Issue 4 November 2010 Inside this issue: Cookery demonstration 2 Dies and nutrition 3 Hand massage 4 The predicted demographic shift towards an ageing of the population, resulting from low birth rates, and increasing life expectancy, is now well recognised internationally. Many countries have introduced policies to reform their health systems to support greater levels of care in the home and in the community. One of the key principles underpinning the delivery of good health and social care to older people in their home is the promotion of good health. The Bangkok Charter for Health Pro- motion developed by the World Health Organisation in 2005 highlights health promotion as a core function of public health. The increased focus on care in the community places home care workers in a key position to contribute to efforts to limit health problems in later life and to increase active, healthy life expectancy. Home care workers provide care to some of the most vulnerable individu- als in our community, supporting them to continue to live in their own home in line with their wishes and preferences. The Netwell Centre promotes best practice in the care of older people, working closely with home care workers where possible. This newsletter reports on a recent health promotion initiative hosted by the Netwell Centre to enhance care work- ers’ understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in the health of the frail older people. Supported by the Health Service Executive Supported by the The European Union’s PEACE III Programme as awarded by Louth Peace & Reconciliation Partnership “Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their quality of life” (World Health Organisation, 2005).
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Health promotion for positive ageing
The Netwell Centre
The Netwell Centre is a
core research centre within
the School of Health Sci-
ences in Dundalk Institute
of Technology (DkIT),
County Louth.
The Netwell Centre special-
ise in research and commu-
nity development work,
promoting and supporting
positive ageing. Our pro-
jects range from software
and hardware solutions to
support older people to
‘age-in-place’, to community
development initiatives
such as the RESPECT pro-
ject which promotes an
inclusive, tolerant society.
The findings from our re-
search projects help inform
policy and practice at re-
gional, national and interna-
tional level. We are a
cross-border leader with
key strategic partnership in
Ireland and internationally.
The Respect Project
Reach out to support ethnic
diversity (RESPECT) is
supported by the EU
Peace III Programme,
awarded Louth Peace and
Reconciliation Partnership.
RESPECT aims to ensure
that care workers are
treated with fairness and
dignity at work and in soci-
ety and to foster peace and
reconciliation through en-
hanced cross-community
understanding.
In a previous workshop we
brought care workers from
diverse cultural background
together to explore their
support needs. Two main
areas identified for support
involved food preparation,
and lifestyle factors.
This newsletter reports on a
follow-up initiative with care
workers on 10th November
2010, which focused on
health promotion.
Home Support WorkersHome Support WorkersIs
sue
4N
ov
em
be
r2
010
Inside this issue:
Cookery demonstration 2
Dies and nutrition 3
Hand massage 4
The predicted demographic shift towards an ageing of the population, resulting from low
birth rates, and increasing life expectancy, is now well recognised internationally. Many
countries have introduced policies to reform their health systems to support greater levels
of care in the home and in the community.
One of the key principles underpinning the delivery of good health and social care to older
people in their home is the promotion of good health. The Bangkok Charter for Health Pro-
motion developed by the World Health Organisation in 2005 highlights health promotion as
a core function of public health.
The increased focus on care in the community places home care workers in a key position
to contribute to efforts to limit health problems in later life and to increase active, healthy
life expectancy. Home care workers provide care to some of the most vulnerable individu-
als in our community, supporting them to continue to live in their own home in line with their
wishes and preferences. The Netwell Centre promotes best practice in the care of older
people, working closely with home care workers where possible. This newsletter reports
on a recent health promotion initiative hosted by the Netwell Centre to enhance care work-
ers’ understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in the health of the frail older people.
Supported by the
Health Service Executive
Supported by the
The European Union’s PEACE III Programme
as awarded by Louth Peace & Reconciliation
Partnership
“Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over
their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their quality of life”
(World Health Organisation, 2005).
On 10th November, 2010, the Net-
well Centre hosted a health promo-
tion seminar for care workers provid-
ing care to older people in the home.
This event, which included a cookery
demonstration, a comprehensive
presentation on diet and nutrition in
later life and applied hand massage
therapy for older people, was pro-
vided by qualified professional.
There is good research evidence to
suggest that healthy lifestyle mes-
sages are more likely to be acted
upon if coming from health profes-
sional (Age Concern, 2006).
Cookery demonstration
The cookery demonstration wasgiven by local chef Gary Coyle, as-sisted by Amy Lavelle. Gary pre-pared and cooked a number ofmeals including:
Porridge;
Sausage, bacon and fried eggs
Scrambled eggs
Salmon, creamed leek
Sheppard’s Pie
Vegetable Soup
Apple Crumble for people withdiabetes
Eating a balanced diet high in fresh
fruit and vegetables and low in fat
gives some protection against
chronic geriatric diseases including
heart disease and some cancers
obesity and arthritis (National Food
Authority, NFA 2000).
The NFA (2000) recommends that
those providing the Home Help ser-
vice for older people should be en-
couraged to become familiar with the
dietary guidelines for older people.
Views on cookery demonstration
The health promotion seminar wasattended by care workers fromacross county Louth. Satisfactionrates were high with 89% reportingthat the cookery demonstration wasvery good or excellent and the re-maining 11% rating it as good.
Some 95% of care workers stronglyagreed or agreed with the statement:this event enhanced my knowledgeo f healthy food and nutrition forolder people.
Similarly, 89% strongly agreed oragreed with the statement: this eventenhanced my awareness of safehandling of food.
A further 95% strongly agreed oragreed with the statement : I will bemore confident when preparingmeals for my clients in future.
Diet and nutrition in later life
Aoife Maher , a Nutrition ProductSpecialist with Nutricia, Ireland,complimented the cookery demon-stration with a comprehensive pres-entation on diet and nutrition in laterlife.
Aoife provided practical guidance on
how to recognise and limit common
health problems associated with
ageing. For example she stressed
the importance of a regular and ade-
quate intake of fluid for older people,
pointing out that many older people
have an impaired sense of thirst and
do not drink enough throughout the
day. She highlighted the conse-
quences of insufficient fluid intake;
dehydration and constipation.
Aoife also stressed that constipationcan also be linked to a diet low in
fibre which she explained can befound in vegetables, fruits and wholegrains and a diet high in fats found incheese, eggs and meats.
She explained how small portions
can be more attractive than a plate
filled with food to older people as
appetite often declines with age.
Similarly, attractive, meals are more
appetising-looking, so ingredients or
garnishes like parsley, tomatoes, or
mint can help.
Views on health promotion talk-
The health information provided by
Nutricia was well received by care
workers, with 94% reporting it was
very good or excellent and the re-
maining 6% reporting it was good.
Health promotion to support inclusion
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Diet is adequate when it providessufficient energy, protein, fat,carbohydrate, needs in a balancedand diversified manner (NSA, 2000)
Some 94% strongly agreed oragreed with the statement I will bemore careful to look at food labelswhen choosing what to buy in future
Hand Massage
Sinead Crilly a trained therapistdemonstrated hand massage and itsbenefits to older people. Sineadpointed out that many older peoplelack physical contact and that mas-sage provides a point of socialand physical contact which can be avital comfort for older people wholive alone, are lonely or socially iso-lated.
As we age our metabolism changes(Harris, and Richards 2010). Mas-sage can enhance circulation andmuscle tone. Sinead’s demonstra-tion reinforced the point that thisneed not be time-consuming andhow a 5-minute slot to offer handmassage can form part of a regularcare regime.
Studies have shown statistically sig-nificant improvements on physiologi-cal or psychological indicators ofrelaxation in older people receivinggentle hand massage across (seeHarris, and Richards 2010).
Views on hand massage
Participants reported high levels ofsatisfaction with the hand massagedemonstration, with 83% reportingthat they found it very good or excel-lent and 17% reproting it was good.
Some 89% strongly agreed oragreed with the statement: this eventprovided practical hands-on experi-ence in care of the elderly.”
Health promotion to support inclusion
Page 3
Reach out to support ethnic diversity (Respect) is a project
supported by the European Union's PEACE III Pro-
gramme as awarded by Louth Peace and Reconciliation
“I have learnt so much
about older people that I
was not aware of before, it
was really excellent ”.
Summary
Providing good quality health andsocial care to greater numbers ofolder people in the home is an im-portant aspiration for Irish socialpolicies. Home Care workers needa broad range of skills if they are tocontribute to increases in active,healthy life expectancy.
As this event demonstrates, careworkers welcome the opportunity toacquire new skills in the care ofolder people. The vast majority ofparticipants attending the healthpromotion seminar said it enhancedtheir knowledge of healthy food andnutrition for older people.
Care workers tend to be lone work-ers, with limited contacts with othercare workers. However, as thisevent demonstrated, these workerswelcome the opportunity to meetand share experiences with othercare workers, with the majority ex-pressing an interest in attendingsimilar events in the future.
The Netwell Centre will continue tosupport initiatives which enhance thequality of life of older people andwhich promote the healthy lifestyleagenda amongst their carers.
“I have learnt so much
about older people that I
was not aware of before.
This was really excellent ”.
“...successful ageing...the ability tomaintain 3 key behaviours: low riskof disease / disability, high mentaland physical health, and activeengagement life” Krondl et al, 2008).
Food Safety Authority (2000). Recommendations for a National Food andNutrition Policy for Older People. Dublin: Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Harris, M.and Richards, K. (2010). The physiological and psychologicaleffects of slow-stroke back massage and hand massage on relaxation inolder people, Journal of Clinical Nursing Volume 19, Numbers 7-8, April2010 , pp. 917 926(10)
Krondl M., Coleman, P., and Lau, D (2008) “Helping Older Adults meet
Nutritional Challenges” Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly,volume 27,
number 3, pages 205-220
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