Maine Nutrition Network [MNN]

2004 Mini-Grant

Project Title: Getting the Word Out… Helping Older Adults Create Personal Health through Personal Choice

Name of Lead Organization: University of Maine Cooperative Extension [UMCE]

Location of Educational Interventions: Primarily through low income elderly housing complexes, senior centers/congregate meal sites, and food pantries located in selected communities in Kennebec, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties… and through the Senior Companion Program monthly in-service trainings and in-home visitations to frail or homebound elderly persons located in Hancock, Penobscot, Aroostook, Washington, Somerset, Franklin, Kennebec, and Waldo counties.

Focus or Theme: The focus of educational interventions has been to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, reduce saturated fat, salt, and sugar consumption, incorporate physical activity and healthy weight goals into daily living, and increase knowledge of healthy food and lifestyle choices… by program participants.

Audience: This project targeted Maine’s limited income older adults [60 years and older] that have gross incomes at or below the 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. The following chart summarizes the number of people that participated in the various educational interventions offered by UMCE at low-income elderly housing complexes, senior centers/congregate meal sites, food pantries, and other local sites as a result of this project.

Results: [as of September 17, 2004]. For additional Outcomes, request Part II of this report from the contact person listed below.

Four different educational programs were developed, offered, and presented… including;
"What Color Is Your Diet" (including the importance of phytochemicals in our diet),
"Food Safety" (basic food safety and food handling),
“Good Sense Nutrition for Seniors” (covering basic food labeling, and nutrients, cooking ideas as well as some food buying & saving tips),
“Healthy Snacks, Increasing the Consumption of Fruits & Vegetables in the Diet.”
Six sets of a four-panel display were designed, developed, printed, laminated, and made ready for use.
Twelve different Quick Tips Packets were developed and printed. Quick Tips topics included: Healthy Eating, Serving Size 1 & 2, More Nutrition Facts, Vitamin Facts, Shopping Tips, Food Storage, Food Safety, Physical Activity, Physical Activity Safety, Healthy Weight, and Health and Wellness.
119 Quick Tips Order Forms were filled in less than two months leading up to September 17, 2004… over 76% of the orders received were from the project’s targeted age group, almost 64% of those ordering Quick Tips Packets reported that their incomes fell within the project’s targeted income range [about 10% did not respond to this question].
608 Quick Tips Packets were distributed.
126 people evaluated the educational displays… almost 81% of those viewing and evaluating the display were from the targeted age group… and about 71% came from the targeted income level audience.
We are… and plan to continue offering educational interventions and Quick Tips Packets beyond the scheduled end of this project.

For more information contact:

Deborah B. Killam, Extension Educator and Associate Extension Professor

5717 Corbett Hall, Room 316,

Orono, Maine 04469-5717

Telephone: 207 581-3874

Fax: 207 581-3212

Email: dkillam@umext.maine.edu

UMCE Aging Aging Initiatives Caregiver Education Research, Reports, & Statistics Health and Wellness

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Last Modified: 08/13/06
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