Reflecting back
on the teaching learning project from last semester, one intervention on the
Public Health Wheel immediately jumped out at me. As our project targeted an
elderly population in an assisted living community, we focused on how getting
involved in different activities and social situations benefits physical and
psychological health. That being said, health teaching is the intervention that
I would apply to this project. According
to the text, a community can be defined as “a collection of people who interact
with one another and whose common interests or characteristics form the basis
for a sense of unity or belonging” (Nies & McEwen, 2011, p. 3). An assisted
living community has the word community right in the name. It is a place where
many common traits are shared whether it may be past experiences, age,
retirement, grandchildren, or health problems. During our presentation, many of
the participants agreed that they wanted to get involved more in their
community. It is essential that this population understands the health benefits
and follows through with participation in activities. This is why health
teaching is a critical intervention because many of the elderly population
suffer from or are at risk for physical and/or mental health declination.
As we carried out our presentation, many of the participants agreed that they would like to be more active and social. According to the text, “many elderly people share concern for the maintenance of good health, the pursuit of an active lifestyle, and the security of needed services to support a quality life” (Nies & McEwen, 2011, p. 92). Many elderly may already understand why it is important to get involved, they just don’t know where or how to start. Implementation of this plan needs to start with getting the word out to the community. First, I think there needs to be a community newsletter either put in the resident’s mail boxes or brought to their room with large print articles and a legible calendar of activities for whatever month they are in. It could even be possible that some of the residents are delegated to write and distribute these themselves. Also, I think if residents have a TV in their room that there should be a local learning channel specific to their living community with current events, socials, news, and indoor/outdoor activities. Each month, I think nurses, CNA’s, or volunteers should come in and demonstrate an “activity of the month.” It may be learning to use exercise equipment, cooking a new recipe, or learning to text on a cell phone. Also, at these monthly seminars, it is critical that nurses show visual aids demonstrating the benefits and also explaining why the elderly are more at risk for depression and other health problems. Residents should have the option of being an “activity leader” and come up with something as they desire. There should be a sign up sheet which allows them to work around their schedules. Residents will be more educated on why activities will help maintain their health, which is what many of them wish to do.
As we carried out our presentation, many of the participants agreed that they would like to be more active and social. According to the text, “many elderly people share concern for the maintenance of good health, the pursuit of an active lifestyle, and the security of needed services to support a quality life” (Nies & McEwen, 2011, p. 92). Many elderly may already understand why it is important to get involved, they just don’t know where or how to start. Implementation of this plan needs to start with getting the word out to the community. First, I think there needs to be a community newsletter either put in the resident’s mail boxes or brought to their room with large print articles and a legible calendar of activities for whatever month they are in. It could even be possible that some of the residents are delegated to write and distribute these themselves. Also, I think if residents have a TV in their room that there should be a local learning channel specific to their living community with current events, socials, news, and indoor/outdoor activities. Each month, I think nurses, CNA’s, or volunteers should come in and demonstrate an “activity of the month.” It may be learning to use exercise equipment, cooking a new recipe, or learning to text on a cell phone. Also, at these monthly seminars, it is critical that nurses show visual aids demonstrating the benefits and also explaining why the elderly are more at risk for depression and other health problems. Residents should have the option of being an “activity leader” and come up with something as they desire. There should be a sign up sheet which allows them to work around their schedules. Residents will be more educated on why activities will help maintain their health, which is what many of them wish to do.
References
Nies,
M.A. & McEwen, M. (2011). Community/public health nursing: Promotion the
health of populations (5th ed.) St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.
Schafer, M.
(2011). Health and network centrality in a continuing care retirement
community. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences
& Social Sciences, 66B(6), 795-803.
Hey Amber!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Many of your ideas for keeping the elderly active coincides perfect with our discussions from Nursing 345 and the theories of aging. As we age, it is important to maintain engaged with the world and life around us in order to stay healthy mentally and physically!
From personal experience, my Grandmother lives in an elderly community. She has always had an active engaging lifestyle, and due her spirit and involvement I think is the key reason she has remained so agile throughout her years!-(She is turning 82 this June!)
I thought you had a lot of very interesting and thoughtful ideas in trying to implement activities into elderly communities. I especially liked the idea for a resident to become the activity leader. It's a great way for getting people involved and giving a sense of belonging and to the community.
It's is also very important we take considerations like this to mind because as we are well aware, the elderly population is continuing to grow as baby boomers are now heading toward retirement! This type of action and education will be perfect in meeting these upcoming needs.
Amber,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and thought that you had a lot of insightful ideas. Your post was very clearly written and well organized which made it easy to read and understand.
I think that you have some great points and ideas about how to develop a health teaching plan in an elderly community. It is important that residents get involved and play an active role in their communities. One of the first things you mentioned was that although people may want to get involved they don’t know where to begin. I think this point is incredibly relevant because even if people have a desire to learn something new it takes effort to seek out information and sometimes this can be difficult. Some people have no issues with seeking out activities or knowledge that they desire, while others need an extra push to get involved. Newspapers, flyers and TV programs are all good ways to get residents involved. Also, staff should encourage residents to participate in the activities offered. If residents were to have a say in the type of information and events offered I feel that it would definitely boost attendance. Events structured by residents for residents would make learning feel like less of a chore and more of a fun, social gathering.
Last summer I worked with a woman who lived in an assisted living facility. I was amazed by all the activities that this place had to offer. There were exercise classes, sing-a-longs, ice cream socials, craft activities, group puzzle work, cooking classes, current event discussions and many other things. I worked 12 hour shifts at this specific location and the days seemed to fly by. From my experience it seemed that all the residents really enjoyed these programs and looked forward to them throughout the day. It not only gave them something to do, but a purpose and a social group to interact with. When people have a sense of belonging and self-worth they are generally happier. In my opinion if people are happier they tend to be in better health and take better care of themselves.