NATIVE ELDER CAREGIVER CURRICULUMNECC: 3.1HEALTH PROMOTION

Caring for Our Elders: Health Promotion for Native Elders & Family Caregivers 3.1

Caring for Our Elders: Health Promotion for Native Elders & Family Caregivers 3.1

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Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Let’s “revisit” Health Disparities Two ways to think about Health

Disparities 1. More American Indian Elders get sick

from certain illnesses (this is true)OR

2. Risks for certain illnesses can be decreased (this is also true)

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Both statements are true… but…is the glass “half-empty”? or “half-full”?

Which one does a community choose to live by: To improve health

outcomes? To prevent illnesses? To change health behaviors?

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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“Serenity Prayer” “… change the things I can”

“Being Older” does not mean “Being Sick” !

“Being Older” does mean: Enjoying friends & family Guiding grandchildren Enriching the community Growing in wisdom

Health Promotion: Really pays off!

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Maintaining Health pays off! … Better than Bingo!

Some very “basic” healthy “day to day” behaviors can:

PREVENT disabilityMaximize IADL & ADL functioningMinimize need for nursing home careMaximize chances of staying in own

home

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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RECIPE FOR HEALTH for Elders & Family Caregivers:

Healthy Nutrition Regular Exercise Adequate Rest Family & Friends

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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… and time for the spirit…

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Making time for the spirit…

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010**CDC goals

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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“… individuals, communities, and professionals – indeed all of us –need to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life are enjoyed by all”.

Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Five good “self-care medicines”: Healthy Nutrition Regular exercise Adequate Rest Family & Friends Spirituality

Health Promotion:Four types of Exercise*

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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AerobicsStrengtheningFlexibilityBalance

* “NAMES” Toolkit, (McDonald, 2005)

* “Well Elders Living Longer”, (NRCNAA 2006)

Health Promotion: Exercise

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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AEROBIC Walking Swimming Biking Pow-wow

dancing Running after

grandchildren!

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Health Promotion: Exercise

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Strengthening Lifting small weights on a regular basis Can use different sized cans of soup or

vegetables as the “weights”… from the cupboard!

Flexibility Stretching to neck, shoulders, back,

stomach, hip Balance

Thinking about & maintaining posture

A “Model” of Health Promotion

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Mr. Vernon Lambert, a Dakota elder, is over 70 years of age and runs several miles a day.

Vern also teaches and mentors students in Dakota studies at Cankdeska Cikana College

Exercise Recommendations

Caring for Our Elders: 3.1 Health Promotion for Native Elders

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Wear well-fitting shoes & Comfortable clothing

Check-in with health care provider first

Bring along a source of “sugar” if you have diabetes

Build up slowly… and Bring along a friend!