Although thoughts at the start of the year always turn to dropping a pant size or two, we should all be focusing on health instead of appearance. Promote healthy living this Healthy Weight Week (Jan. 17–Jan. 23) and Women’s Healthy Weight Day (Jan. 28).
Increasing your involvement with educational campaigns such as this is a great way to expand your community presence while also spreading the word about home care.
Here are some easy things you can do to get started:
Sponsor a healthy recipe contest in your community’s senior centers, ILFs, ALFs and among your clients. Encourage seniors and facility staff members to submit their favorite healthy recipes. Offer a small prize to the person with the tastiest recipe and make the recipe booklet available to this community in print or online. Don’t forget to include your agency’s services and contact information.
Offer to host a diet and nutrition class for seniors at a local senior center or library. Here’s a ready-made class that a non-clinician can present.
Approach local senior church groups with hosting a healthy potluck supper in which seniors can participate in a discussion and class on how obesity among the elderly is especially dangerous to their general health.
Private duty agencies call on bariatric clinics with specialized 3- or 4-hour post-surgical service packages for newly discharged surgical patients that include light housekeeping and meal preparation.
This Women’s Healthy Weight Day, organize a short community walk to encourage local senior ladies to get some exercise and maintain their health. Encourage caregivers to get involved, too. Provide healthy treats like fruit at the end of the event.