Nutrition and Older Adults - LPNI

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Nutrition and Older Adults

LPNI Health Topic – February 2019

Nutrition and Older Adults

From the onset of our parish nurse ministry in Bethlehem, we paid a lot of attention to the health issues of our elderly. Most of our seniors are deprived of health insurance at age of 60. This is too bad especially when they can’t financially afford to pay for even their basic health services.

Statistics show that many of the diseases suffered by older adults are the result of dietary factors, some of which have been lifelong. These factors are then compounded by changes that naturally occur with the aging process. As an example, foods saturated with fats seem to be associated with cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate. Risk factors such as increased blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose intolerance, all of which are significantly affected by dietary factors, play a significant role in the development of coronary heart disease.

During our journey in Parish Nursing over the past 12 years we were able through the various medical awareness sessions and screenings to identify many participants with different medical issues such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, breast cancer and others. Many of the participants were very grateful, as they never thought of having these medical issues and concerns. Many were educated and learned about their health conditions, even improving them.

Our focus was on providing and explaining about a healthy and balanced nutritious diet for our seniors. It is well known that the Middle East diet is one of the healthiest in the world in terms of including fresh vegetables, fruits and limited meats in daily menus. However, lately a new phenomenon has been evidenced in our population which is the consumption of “junk food” which wasn’t there a few years ago when we predominantly ate at home. This is becoming more common among the youth; but it is gradually becoming more common for older adults as well. From childhood we returned home from school at noon to eat fresh homemade hot meals that were prepared by our mothers who purchased fresh vegetables, fruit and meat on a daily basis.

For our older adults, twice a month we have an educational presentation with a nutritionist. Sometimes this is accompanied by the preparation of a variety of meals, salads, soups, etc. on the spot with detailed explanation of the benefits of these healthier foods. Our seniors enjoy these activities. After the presentation we enjoy the fellowship and eat what we have prepared together. Sometimes the nutritionist asks our elders how they used to prepare certain meals. She may critique the responses, and if there are better choices and a better way of preparation, she shares how and why.

I believe that our main role as a Parish Nurse is feeding souls with the “life-saving nutrition” of love, care and sharing with them our Savior Jesus Christ who said about himself: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1, 2)

Raeda Mansour, Intergenerational Programs Manager

Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem

Tel: +970 2 2751260, Fax:+970 2 2751261

Email: rmansour@diyar.ps