Bringing healthy ageing home: Adapting an online ‘food and fitness in older age’ education workshop for homecare support workers
Jess Barry1,2, Antonia Thodis1,31National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia2Registered Public Health Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA), Crows Nest, Sydney, NSW, Australia3Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with Dietitians Australia (DA), Canberra, ACT, Australia
Abstract
Background:
Many older Australians (65 years +) don’t meet national dietary or physical activity guidelines and experience social isolation despite evidence that modifiable lifestyle-factors are determinants of health. Homecare workers can help address this, working at the front-line of supporting older people in the community, but there are few professional education opportunities on this topic designed for this workforce. For this reason, an online education “Food and Fitness” workshop initially created for clinicians/allied health professionals was adapted for homecare workers.
Method:
A clinician-targeted online workshop was adapted for homecare workers by:
•Modifying delivery over multiple sessions and a shorter timeframe.
•Collaborating with stakeholders to establish homecare worker scope of practice and learning objectives.
•Conducting desktop research regarding in-home care and My Aged Care services.
•Translating clinical advice into plain-language information.
•Building case-studies for problem-solving in the homecare environment.
•Adjusting participant evaluation survey.
Results:
Modifications resulted in delivery of a resource pack and online workshop for homecare workers. This consisted of interactive presentations and facilitation of problem-solving using case-study scenarios and plain-language information. Topics included: age-related physiological and sociological changes, nutrition and physical activity in older age, social isolation, food security, and the Mediterranean Diet.
Discussion:
Providing access to information about modifiable lifestyle factors to support healthy ageing in the home is important to enable older people to meet their health-related goals. There are few education opportunities directed to homecare workers regarding health and nutrition, therefore adapting clinician-targeted education to meet the needs of the homecare workforce is worthwhile.
Biography
Jess Barry (BAppSc, MPH, RPHNutr) is a Research Assistant at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). She has worked in health promotion, health program evaluation, resource development and nutrition education programs, and research to address food insecurity. Her research at NARI focuses on investigating the needs and priorities for older people regarding their health and wellbeing and exploring acute models of public health care for this population. Jess works across a suite of projects which form a joint program of work with the Victorian Department of Health (DH).