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Impact Report

For plan KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Chaves County)
Date November 1, 2010, 9:26 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report 2010 General Nutrition Strong Women, Strong Bones, a program to help prevent osteoporosis was offered at Senior Circle and Roswell Adult Center. This agent conducted classes on Monday/Friday for Senior Circle and Tuesday/Thursday for Roswell Adult Center. Jill Dennis from Comfort Keepers Community Relations Director helped lead the classes at Senior Circle. The twelve week Strong Women Strong Bones classes concluded in December 2009. The agent worked with Senior Circle and Roswell Adult Center Sites to plan for the next twelve week session. Fliers were distributed to participants about upcoming session. Two Strong Women Strong Bones Informational meetings were held one at Senior Circle and the other at Roswell Adult Center. At this meeting, participants learned about osteoporosis and how weight bearing exercises can help prevent this disease. They also learned about the other advantages of weight bearing exercises and requirements of the class. Classes began the following week. A total of four (4) twelve week programs were conducted at Senior Circle and three (3) twelve week programs at Roswell Adult Center from October 2009 through September 2010 with one hundred nineteen (119) classes were held with 2,104 contacts. One participant shared her story about being able to lift her carry-on luggage into the overhead bin by herself where as a year ago she could not do this. Another participant shared that she went back to the doctor after being diagnosed with osteopenia and new test results showed she was no longer in this range and her bone density had improved. The agent had the opportunity to meet Dr. Couture, President of NMSU while Dr. Couture was conducting a campus visit at Carlsbad. The agent presented a power point slide presentation on the Strong Women Strong Bones program in Chaves County. Agents from Eddy and Lea also presented programs on Progressive Ag Safety Day, Kitchen Creations- Diabetic Cooking School and the methamphetamine coalition. “Building Strong Bones for Life: Preventing Osteoporosis” was the program presented by this agent to the Extension Clubs in form of a Leader’s Training, New Mexico Senior Olympics Senior Trek, and Misslamo Extension Club. This program focuses on the importance of bone health, risk factors of osteoporosis, five simple prevention steps, and weight bearing exercises. Participants gained knowledge in the area of osteoporosis prevention and several commented on what they would do to stop this silent disease. One participant thought the information provided was valuable that she asked the agent to present this program at two senior sites next year. The home economist served on the Enhanced Fitness Program committee sponsored by NM Senior Olympics of Chaves County. Enhanced Fitness is an exercise program for senior adults that helps with balance, flexibility, strength, and cardio. One class had been started at the Joy Center in Roswell and another will soon be underway. The agent was also trained in this program so she could serve as a substitute instructor along with helping others in forming new classes. “Brain Blitz”- Keeping Your Brain Functioning at its Best was the program presented by this agent to the Extension Clubs in form of a Leader’s Training. Participants gained knowledge in identifying potential causes of mental confusion and forgetfulness. They also discovered and practiced techniques to stimulate mental functioning, utilized memory tools and techniques to trigger memory and were able to recognize typical age-related and more serious mental functioning changes. One participant thought the information provided was very valuable that she asked the agent to present this program at two senior sites next year. Over 100 participants received this information along with 250 booklets distributed to members and general public. This program was also presented to members that belong to the fitness program “Curves.” Two of the four Kitchen Creations-Diabetic Cooking School classes were held the month of February and the last two were held the month of March with twenty three (23) diabetics and/or support persons in attendance. The agent was responsible for advertising the diabetic cooking school, acquiring a Certified Diabetes Educator, mail outs to participants, ordering materials, and food preparation. During the first week, participants learned about glucose levels, carbohydrates, labels, 50/50 plate, meal planning and portion control. The second week, participants learned to recognize that carbohydrates raise blood glucose, to use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid, to identify serving size, number of servings and grams of carbohydrates on food labels, cooking properties of sugars and artificial sweeteners. At the third class participants learned the importance and benefits of increasing consumption of foods in the vegetables group. During the fourth class participants gained knowledge in Heart Healthy Foods and how to cook foods that are low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. The agent along with the Certified Diabetes Educator teaches the lessons and cooking. “Portion Control” was the program presented to employees of Comfort Keepers. Comfort Keepers is an agency in Roswell that provides quality in home care to seniors and other clients who need help with the activities of daily living. Employees are often responsible for meal planning, preparation and serving food to their clients. Ninety three (93) employees gained knowledge in the area of portion control, 50/50 plate, serving sizes and food guide pyramid. The agent presented a nutrition Program on “Life’s Simple 7 Steps to a Healthy Heart” at Villa Del Rey Retirement Home. Twenty Five (25) residents were in attendance and learned the importance of getting active, eating better, losing or maintain weight, stopping smoking, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure and reducing blood sugar. The Home Economist along with a 4-H parent/volunteer team taught nutrition lessons on how to fight bacteria and keep food safe at the Progressive Ag Safety Day Camp in April. A puppet show and food safety train model was used as teaching tools to reinforce the teaching concepts. “Who Wants To Be A Germ Buster?” was the title of the presentation. Approximately 2000 elementary school students along with their teachers and chaperones gained knowledge in the importance of hand washing, refrigerating foods, washing fruits and vegetables and keeping counters clean. Evaluations reflected that the program was very well received and enjoyed by the students. Roswell Contacts: 1132 Youth 933 Adults 199 White 420 Hispanic 712 Females 567 Males 565 . Artesia and Carlsbad Contacts: 850 “Eating For Your Eyes” was the topic for May’s Leaders Training. The agent presented the eye health program to Extension Club members. Participants gained knowledge in eye diseases, risk factors involved with eye diseases, nutrition for your eyes, what to eat for eye health and healthy recipes. The agent provided each participant with a Vision Simulator Card, which enabled the participants to experience what it is like to see with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. One member commented that she had heard of the eye diseases but had no idea that is how the person is affected when they have the disease. Over 100 participants received this information along with 250 booklets distributed to members and general public.