Health promotion strategies for the elderly generally have three basic aims: maintaining and increasing functional capacity, maintaining or improving self-care [4]
Occupational Therapy is a huge advocate of mandating and improving self care. I've seen many patients that fail to thrive and decline ini self care areas. Increasing or maintaing self care is so important because people are living longer.
Health promotion targeted to older people differs significantly from that addressing younger generations. This partly stems from the fact that the health of older people is generally less than perfect [2]. Seniors are more likely to be suffering from chronic conditions and multi-morbidities, and their functional capacity is frequently limited [3]. This implies that the health promotion programs for the elderly have to account for these limitations in health and daily activities, and require more involvement of professional health promoters and more individualized approaches.
Individualizing education to my patients is something I do often. Many times my patients have caregivers that either are family or hired. I encourage my patients to do what activities they feel comfortable doing whether its going to sit on the porch or just getting out of bed for several hours a day.
Most of these health promotion activities among the elderly focus on the relatively younger seniors. Within the group of those aged 85+, the emphasis is more on appropriate medical attention from physicians and care givers rather than on their health behavior.
Working as a COTA a big part of what I do is educate my patients. I service patients 40-99+. Im always promoting healthy habits, exercise and being active.
These results contribute to the evidence that well-designed interventions targeted to young children might be an effective first step toward reducing the risk of chronic disease later in life. To the best of our knowledge, our project in preschool children in Colombia is the first such study conducted in a low- and middle-income country, and represents the proof of principle for a research program aimed at developing effective preventive strategies targeted toward preschool and elementary school children in both Colombia and Spain.
Early intervention is one of the best tools we have. Its easier to teach good habits when young in age. I look back on the eating habits of my family and see how if they had more knowledge I would have tried to adopt some changes a long time ago. I have been experimenting with vegan options and with the knowledge I have gained over the past year a change is diet its coming for me. Kennedy and Floriani (2008) provided literature and two examples of approaches nursing can take to reach diverse populations of children and their families to enhance healthy lifestyles. This concept has to be a multidisciplinary effort to work.
In this randomized study, children of preschool age, parents, and teachers who received an intervention based on a unique program funded and implemented by a public-private partnership aimed at changing knowledge, attitudes, and habits related to healthy diet and active lifestyle, showed larger increases after 5 months in knowledge, attitudes, and habits scores when compared with a control cohort.
Intervention in children would seem to me to be the best starting point for anything. The habits taught to children can really have a positive affect if they are reinforced. II try to use that same mentality with my toddlers. They will carry on the habits that they are taught by myself and their dad. We have to set a good example.One way I try to do this is offering lots of fruits and veggies. My son has picked up on the habit but it has been harder for my daughter who is super picky.
There is growing evidence that negative health behaviors initiated in childhood may persist through adulthood, leading to risk factors of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. 4 5 This represents an opportunity for primary prevention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where rapid changes are occurring in chronic disease-relevant behaviors. 6 School and community programs that promote regular physical activity are recommended toward reducing the burden of chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyle and obesity
Im seeing a reoccurring theme with promoting physical activity as a way to decrease the prevalence of chronic disease. With all my research on type 2 diabetes obesity was a number 1 contributing factor in diabetes. Promoting physical activity at a young age can combat bad habits ini adulthood.
Noncommunicable diseases are responsible for the majority of deaths throughout the world. 1 According to the World Bank, 56% of all deaths in low- and middle-income countries may be attributed to noncommunicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases, 2 and by 2020, 80% of all deaths may be attributed to these diseases. 3 The growing burden of these diseases stresses the need for population-based studies on effective strategies for their primary prevention in both developed and developing nations.
I was interested in seeing how the data look in the AA community. According to the CDC death rate for African Americans decreased 25% from 1999 to 2015, but African Americans ages 18-49 are 2 times as likely to die from heart disease than whites.
Preschoolers need about 8 – 12 hours per night, but specific amount varies per childNaps may not be needed and are usually not taken around 5 years oldIf naps are not taken, often “quiet time” is needed/usedPreschool age children will draw out bedtime routine more compared to toddlersAsking for water, bathroom, lights on/off, one more book, having special stuffed animal......Helpful hints: (1) Having a routine, (2) Caregiver(s) being consistent with how to address child’s behaviors/asks at bedtimeCan last 30 – 45 minutesBehavioral insomnia can result when there are negative associations with sleep
Both of my younger children are on a strict bedtime routine. They started sleeping through the night around 7 months. I think it is very important to start a routine early so the child gets acclimated.
Lactose intolerance often observed during preschool ageMore common in Black, Asian American, and Native American children
My 3-year old was breastfed and lactose intolerant. We tried lactoose free for a few months and then moved to almond milk. My almost 2-year old has never had cows milk. Im afraid what it would do to his stomach at this point.
Preschool Education■In the 1960’s – 1970’s several randomized controlled early childhood education studies were completed to explore the impacted of early childhood education on future outcomes (up until these children reached 30+ years old) mostly in poor, low income populations. Children were randomized to participate in a structured early education program or no preschool. –Perry Preschool Project (1962–1967)–Abecedarian Project (1972 – 1977)–Chicago Child-Parent Centers (started 1986)■These studies found that the children who were randomized to the early childhood education program had better long-term outcomes compared to those who did not. –Fewer special education placements, Higher test scores, more likely to graduate from high school, less delinquency/criminal activity, lower rates of teen pregnancy...■A few recent studies/reports from Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K program and 2012 Head Start—found mixed results and the benefits not lasting■Leading some to now question if early childhood education makes a difference
I utilized early childhood education with my oldest son. He learned some valuable educational material that was reinforced at home. As for the newer studies, things are a lot different from the 60s-70s. Lasting effects will rely on the area being serviced, amount of parental involvement, reinforcement in the home, and educational level of parents.
Primary teeth have erupted by early preschool age and permeant teeth begin to erupt at the end of preschool stage■Dental hygiene and checkups are essential ■Begin to use toothpaste with fluoride and fluoride varnishes, but balance with risk of fluorosis in children younger than 8 years old. ■Cavities/tooth decay seen more frequently in low income childrenAt any age, problems dentition can lead to pain and problems with chewing, which can then further impact nutrition and health.
At my kids pediatrician they apply a sealent to the teeth to protect them. The first time they did it was surprised. They didn't have that when my oldest was their age.
The concept of setting “media limits” before 2 years of age should be discussed at health maintenance/well-child visits, because many parents are not aware of the AAP recommendations. It is important to set limits and create balance at an early age. Only 15% of parents report that their pediatrician discusses media use with them.3 Families should be encouraged to provide supervised independent play for infants and young children during times at which a parent cannot sit down and engage in play with the child. Simply having a young child play with nesting cups on the kitchen floor while a parent prepares dinner is useful playtime.
My son has a well child visit next month. I am going to make a mental note of screen time conversation. I think its interesting how they tailor the visit now that I am more aware of what they are seeking.
Although there is equal access to media among children of different socioeconomic groups, the amount of media consumption is unequal. Children who live in homes with lower socioeconomic status and children with single mothers or mothers with less than a high school education are spending more time in front of a screen on a daily basis.3,7 Another study found no association between family income and early childhood media use but did find a relationship between lower parental education and higher levels of media use in early childhood.8
I have a 15-year old and with him we were never home enough to watch tv. He started playing sports at age 6 and up until his 7th grade year he played 3 sports. This kept us very busy. Being a single mom at the time I never thought about his tv/screen time, because we were always busy and I'm grateful for this. He learned other skills besides sitting at home in front of the screen. I do see the difference between how much screen time he got versus my two smaller ones. My smaller two seem to have still developed some skills quicker, but I think this has to do with a number of reasons. They interact with other children on a more regular basis now and started going to daycare at 4 weeks. My oldest went to daycare for about 3-4 months and after that my grandmother kept him. He was the only child for 12 years. I also made less money and was a single mother. Also, the last two were breastfed for 1 year.
Young children may not be paying close attention to a televised program that they cannot understand, but their parents are watching. It might be background media to the child, but it is foreground media to the parent. It distracts the parent and decreases parent-child interaction.30,31 Infant vocabulary growth is directly related to the amount of “talk time” or the amount of time parents spend speaking to them.32 Heavy television use in a household can interfere with a child's language development simply because parents likely spend less time talking to the child.33
My toddlers rarely watch tv when my husband or myself does. They are usually interacting with one another, jumping off the couch or chasing one another through the. house. I am inclined now to let them continue their interactions for the sake of development. I see how important their play time is. Being an OT pediatric practice is based on play for the patients because it promotes development.
Currently, 90% of parents report that their children younger than 2 years watch some form of electronic media.2 By 3 years, almost one-third of children have a television in their bedroom.3 Parents report that they view television as a peacekeeper and a safe activity for their children while they are preparing dinner, getting ready for work, or doing household chores.3 Many parents report feeling better knowing that the programming their children watch has been described as educational. Parents who believe that educational television is “very important for healthy development” are twice as likely to have the television on all or most of the time.4
I have a three-year old and almost 2-year. I limit the tv they watch, but I did give my daughter an iPad early. By recommendation my kids have way too much screen time. Luckily my daughter attends a Montessori program, now and has exposure to more things. I do encourage my kids to play with their millions of toys to promote less tablet time, but that fails a lot. I am actively working on getting back into our reading routine to foster intimate time together and hopefully the joy of reading.
Despite increasing evidence of the long-term effects of early adversity on life-long health, little attention has beenpaid to the development of health pro-motion and disease prevention strate-gies based on the reduction of signifi-cant stressors affecting everyday life forvulnerable young children and theirparents. This potential shortsighted-ness may in part be the result of a gen-eralized misunderstanding about thenature and effects of childhood stress.For example, although mastery of rela-tively minor adversity by children is
The future of children and future genertaions depends ono policies that advocate for early preventative measures aimed at increasing over mental and physical health. The earlier things are done the better the chance of a positive outcome. That seen with almost everything around us. This is seen with cancer treatments, yearly exams, and vaccinations.
Recent findings include theassociation of reduced hippocampalvolume with prolonged perceivedstress57as well as with diagnosed con-ditions such as diabetes, major depres-sion, Cushing disease, and posttrau-matic stress disorder.
For years I've heard and believe stress kills. Ive always looked at stress from the increase in cortico steriod level, but now I know stress affects multiple organs. All the more reason to avoid prolonged stress.
Early expe-riences of child maltreatment and pov-erty have been associated with height-ened immune responses in adulthoodthat are known risk factors for the de-velopment of cardiovascular disease, dia-betes, asthma, and chronic lung
Coming from a home where I didn't always have a meal I can relate to this. My body adjusted to the lack of food consumption and fortunately for me things turned around before it could affect other organs.
frican Americans, for example, expe-rience earlier deteriorations of health ina cumulative fashion, leading to progres-sively larger health disparities with age
From personal experiences AA have traditions and behaviors that lead to a shorter life span. Educating and personally responsibility must be adopted in my culture so that our health is better and our life expectancy increases. I remember growing up and eating some of the stuff now I wouldn't touch and especially wouldn't give to my kids. I stress to my husband teaching the kids a healthier diet so it grows on them. Our health is ours first.
or much of the 20th century, adultconditions such as coronary heart dis-ease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer wereregarded solely as products of adult be-havior and lifestyles.7By the century’send, however, an extensive body of evi-dence linked adult chronic disease toprocesses and experiences occurring de-cades before, in some cases as early as in-trauterine life, across a wide range of im-
From personal experience this statement is true and disturbing at the same time. Thinking back on when I was young it seemed obesity wasn't as bad. Now, with all the added hormones and GMOs added to our foods people are sicker. It is no surprise that chronic disease is linked to intrauterine life. Not only are we hat we eat we p ass that down to our offspring.
Some critics have responded by suggest-ing greater focus on inequalities in ser-vice utilization and differential treat-ment by the health care system.
I believe that understanding racial/ethnic inequalities is important in the progression of disease and should guide health policy. As I found with my practicum understanding those factors that affect different outcomes in different ethnic groups could be the key in increasing health care utilization. Also, a more diverse workforce is a key into helping individuals feel comfortable in seeking care.