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.

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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

If you have any queries regarding this newsletters, contact:

Lucia Carragher T: 042 937 0400 ext: 2677

E: lucia.carragher@netwellcentre.org

Regional Development Centre

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Dublin Road, Dundalk,

Co Louth.

Tel: +353 (0)42 937 0497

Fax: +353 (0)42 933 1163

E-mail: info@netwellcentre.org

Netwell Centre

References

We are on the web:

www.netwellcentre.org

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...Transforming Communities,Environments and Technologies forageing-in-place.

The Netwell Centre Cúltaca liaise between the older people and service providers, including care work-

ers, to support and empower older people.

If you would like to speak to our Cúltaca for older people, contact:

Ann Marron, T: 042 939 1078 E: ann.marron@netwelllcentre.org or

Pat Kerins, T: 042 937 0531 E: patrick.kerins@netwelllcentre.org