Seniors test their Health IQ with help of program
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - Continuing Care & Allied Services/Senior Health
From years of relationships with senior citizens, Wheaton Franciscan Senior Health gets some common questions:
- Why can’t I sleep at night?
- Isn’t there something I can do for irregularity/high blood pressure/insomnia that doesn’t involve a prescription?
- I’m stiff and unsteady – how do you expect me to exercise?
In an effort to address some of these questions on a larger scale, Wheaton Franciscan Senior Health hosted the “What’s Your Health IQ?” Senior Workshop in May of 2008. The workshop was available free of charge to any interested senior citizen, and was held at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis. By 8:15 am the room was nearly filled with seniors eager for the 9 am start. Yet another thing the Senior Health staff understands is that older adults are almost always early, so they had quick breads and beverages available for munching until the program started.
The first topic was “Sleeping Easy,” and for such a drowsy title, the room was full of energy. The presenter provided an overview of sleep, and then talked about how sleep needs change as adults age. Solutions were provided for common problems contributing to poor sleep such as dehydration, low levels of activity, and irregular sleep habits. By the end of the presentation, everyone was wide awake and scribbling notes for reference.
The second topic was handled by a geriatrician and integrative medicine specialist. The “Food as Medication” program provided an overview of common foods that have medicinal effects on the body. For example, attendees learned that cinnamon can relieve gastrointestinal complaints; that ginger relieves nausea and is believed to be an anti-inflammatory; and that garlic may be stinky, but it can work like aspirin to thin blood.
Participants also heard from a physical therapist who showed them they could, indeed, embark on a fitness program. The guests were interested to learn that fitness doesn’t equate to just strength – they were also fascinated to understand that strength training doesn’t always have to incorporate weights. By the time the presentation was over, the room was filled with people trying out different balance and flexibility exercises, and most requested multiple copies of the handouts so they could share them with friends and neighbors.
At the end of the program, the presenters were crowded with people who all voiced the same sentiment – it was good to get information that affected daily living, and they were happy to have advice that could actually be used. One participant confided that he would never do the fitness walking that was demonstrated, but he would certainly stand in his living room and practice his balance during the evening news. Another mentioned that the cinnamon would be a great thing to try before her next blood pressure check, because she’d prefer not to increase her medication if at all possible.