Maximizing Quality of Life
201 - Maximizing Quality of Life: Social Determinants of Health and Health Promotion
Tuesday, July 17
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Diplomat Room-Lobby Level
Heather Hartline-Grafton, BS, MPH, DrPH, RD-Screen & Intervene: Addressing Food Insecurity Among Older Adults
Chintan Bhatt, MBBS, MPH-Factors Influencing Healthy Aging in the US
Chintan Bhatt, MBBS, MPH-Oral Health Problems in Older Mexican Americans
Elena Bastida, MS, PhD-Becoming Agents of Family Health Promotion: Mexican American Grandparents Increase Self-Efficacy, Educate Grandchildren and Improve Physical Health
Many social determinants of health and health promotion influence the ability of older adults to maximize their quality of life. Food insecurity is a reality for millions of older adults that has serious implications for their health, and ability to live independently. Health care providers and systems are well-positioned to address food insecurity among older adults and connect them to food and nutrition resources. Another factor that influences overall health and quality of life is oral health. The relationship between oral diseases and systemic diseases is bidirectional and several systemic diseases have oral manifestations.
The session will begin with a presentation about a free, on-line, Hunger Vital Sign™ screening tool used to screen patients 50 years and older for food insecurity. The tool and full course were developed by the Food Research & Action Center and AARP Foundation for health care providers and other community-based practitioners. Information will be provided on how to connect at-risk individuals to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), other nutrition resources, and community partners. The presentation will discuss special considerations when addressing food insecurity among older adults and review free, downloadable resources available through the course, including posters and charts for use in clinical settings.
After examining food insecurity, the session will present information about a determinant of health and health promotion in many families – grandparents. Cultural stereotypes of grandparents often portray them as indulging, spoiling and overfeeding their grandchildren. These stereotypes are more pronounced for ethnic grandparents. Research from The Beyond Sabor Intervention Parent Study will be presented. Beyond Sabor (the Spanish word for “flavor”) is a NIH funded community-based lifestyle modification program designed to control weight gain and the progression of diabetes. The study population were Mexican Americans living in food desert neighborhoods. Findings will describe the capacity of grandparent to learn, adapt, change behaviors and construct new family roles, with concomitant improvements to their physical health.
The session will end with an examination of factors influencing healthy aging and oral health problems in older Mexican Americans as shown in longitudinal data from the Border Epidemiological Study of Aging (BESA). The connection between overall oral health problems and bleeding gums to social and other physical determinants of health will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
- List three health consequences of food insecurity for older adults.
- Describe the role of Mexican American grandparents in improving healthy eating and encouraging physical activity among their grandchildren.
- Identify protective and risk factors for survival among older adults in the US.
- Identify the relationship between oral and systemic diseases among Mexican Americans.