1. Health promotion for positive ageing
The Netwell Centre
The Netwell Centre is a
core research centre within
the School of Health Sci-
ences in Dundalk Institute
of Technology (DkIT),
County Louth.
The Netwell Centre special-
ise in research and commu-
nity development work,
promoting and supporting
positive ageing. Our pro-
jects range from software
and hardware solutions to
support older people to
‘age-in-place’, to community
development initiatives
such as the RESPECT pro-
ject which promotes an
inclusive, tolerant society.
The findings from our re-
search projects help inform
policy and practice at re-
gional, national and interna-
tional level. We are a
cross-border leader with
key strategic partnership in
Ireland and internationally.
The Respect Project
Reach out to support ethnic
diversity (RESPECT) is
supported by the EU
Peace III Programme,
awarded Louth Peace and
Reconciliation Partnership.
RESPECT aims to ensure
that care workers are
treated with fairness and
dignity at work and in soci-
ety and to foster peace and
reconciliation through en-
hanced cross-community
understanding.
In a previous workshop we
brought care workers from
diverse cultural background
together to explore their
support needs. Two main
areas identified for support
involved food preparation,
and lifestyle factors.
This newsletter reports on a
follow-up initiative with care
workers on 10th
November
2010, which focused on
health promotion.
Home Support WorkersHome Support WorkersIssue4November2010
Inside this issue:
Cookery demonstration 2
Dies and nutrition 3
Hand massage 4
The predicted demographic shift towards an ageing of the population, resulting from low
birth rates, and increasing life expectancy, is now well recognised internationally. Many
countries have introduced policies to reform their health systems to support greater levels
of care in the home and in the community.
One of the key principles underpinning the delivery of good health and social care to older
people in their home is the promotion of good health. The Bangkok Charter for Health Pro-
motion developed by the World Health Organisation in 2005 highlights health promotion as
a core function of public health.
The increased focus on care in the community places home care workers in a key position
to contribute to efforts to limit health problems in later life and to increase active, healthy
life expectancy. Home care workers provide care to some of the most vulnerable individu-
als in our community, supporting them to continue to live in their own home in line with their
wishes and preferences. The Netwell Centre promotes best practice in the care of older
people, working closely with home care workers where possible. This newsletter reports
on a recent health promotion initiative hosted by the Netwell Centre to enhance care work-
ers’ understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in the health of the frail older people.
Supported by the
Health Service Executive
Supported by the
The European Union’s PEACE III Programme
as awarded by Louth Peace & Reconciliation
Partnership
“Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over
their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their quality of life”
(World Health Organisation, 2005).

2. On 10th November, 2010, the Net-
well Centre hosted a health promo-
tion seminar for care workers provid-
ing care to older people in the home.
This event, which included a cookery
demonstration, a comprehensive
presentation on diet and nutrition in
later life and applied hand massage
therapy for older people, was pro-
vided by qualified professional.
There is good research evidence to
suggest that healthy lifestyle mes-
sages are more likely to be acted
upon if coming from health profes-
sional (Age Concern, 2006).
Cookery demonstration
The cookery demonstration was
given by local chef Gary Coyle, as-
sisted by Amy Lavelle. Gary pre-
pared and cooked a number of
meals including:
 Porridge;
 Sausage, bacon and fried eggs
 Scrambled eggs
 Salmon, creamed leek
 Sheppard’s Pie
 Vegetable Soup
 Apple Crumble for people with
diabetes
Eating a balanced diet high in fresh
fruit and vegetables and low in fat
gives some protection against
chronic geriatric diseases including
heart disease and some cancers
obesity and arthritis (National Food
Authority, NFA 2000).
The NFA (2000) recommends that
those providing the Home Help ser-
vice for older people should be en-
couraged to become familiar with the
dietary guidelines for older people.
Views on cookery demonstration
The health promotion seminar was
attended by care workers from
across county Louth. Satisfaction
rates were high with 89% reporting
that the cookery demonstration was
very good or excellent and the re-
maining 11% rating it as good.
Some 95% of care workers strongly
agreed or agreed with the statement:
this event enhanced my knowledge
o f healthy food and nutrition for
older people.
Similarly, 89% strongly agreed or
agreed with the statement: this event
enhanced my awareness of safe
handling of food.
A further 95% strongly agreed or
agreed with the statement : I will be
more confident when preparing
meals for my clients in future.
Diet and nutrition in later life
Aoife Maher , a Nutrition Product
Specialist with Nutricia, Ireland,
complimented the cookery demon-
stration with a comprehensive pres-
entation on diet and nutrition in later
life.
Aoife provided practical guidance on
how to recognise and limit common
health problems associated with
ageing. For example she stressed
the importance of a regular and ade-
quate intake of fluid for older people,
pointing out that many older people
have an impaired sense of thirst and
do not drink enough throughout the
day. She highlighted the conse-
quences of insufficient fluid intake;
dehydration and constipation.
Aoife also stressed that constipation
can also be linked to a diet low in
fibre which she explained can be
found in vegetables, fruits and whole
grains and a diet high in fats found in
cheese, eggs and meats.
She explained how small portions
can be more attractive than a plate
filled with food to older people as
appetite often declines with age.
Similarly, attractive, meals are more
appetising-looking, so ingredients or
garnishes like parsley, tomatoes, or
mint can help.
Views on health promotion talk-
The health information provided by
Nutricia was well received by care
workers, with 94% reporting it was
very good or excellent and the re-
maining 6% reporting it was good.
Health promotion to support inclusion
Page 2HomeSupportWorkersIssue4
Diet is adequate when it provides
sufficient energy, protein, fat,
carbohydrate, needs in a balanced
and diversified manner (NSA, 2000)

3. Some 94% strongly agreed or
agreed with the statement I will be
more careful to look at food labels
when choosing what to buy in future
Hand Massage
Sinead Crilly a trained therapist
demonstrated hand massage and its
benefits to older people. Sinead
pointed out that many older people
lack physical contact and that mas-
sage provides a point of social
and physical contact which can be a
vital comfort for older people who
live alone, are lonely or socially iso-
lated.
As we age our metabolism changes
(Harris, and Richards 2010). Mas-
sage can enhance circulation and
muscle tone. Sinead’s demonstra-
tion reinforced the point that this
need not be time-consuming and
how a 5-minute slot to offer hand
massage can form part of a regular
care regime.
Studies have shown statistically sig-
nificant improvements on physiologi-
cal or psychological indicators of
relaxation in older people receiving
gentle hand massage across (see
Harris, and Richards 2010).
Views on hand massage
Participants reported high levels of
satisfaction with the hand massage
demonstration, with 83% reporting
that they found it very good or excel-
lent and 17% reproting it was good.
Some 89% strongly agreed or
agreed with the statement: this event
provided practical hands-on experi-
ence in care of the elderly.”
Health promotion to support inclusion
Page 3
Reach out to support ethnic diversity (Respect) is a project
supported by the European Union's PEACE III Pro-
gramme as awarded by Louth Peace and Reconciliation
“I have learnt so much
about older people that I
was not aware of before, it
was really excellent ”.
Summary
Providing good quality health and
social care to greater numbers of
older people in the home is an im-
portant aspiration for Irish social
policies. Home Care workers need
a broad range of skills if they are to
contribute to increases in active,
healthy life expectancy.
As this event demonstrates, care
workers welcome the opportunity to
acquire new skills in the care of
older people. The vast majority of
participants attending the health
promotion seminar said it enhanced
their knowledge of healthy food and
nutrition for older people.
Care workers tend to be lone work-
ers, with limited contacts with other
care workers. However, as this
event demonstrated, these workers
welcome the opportunity to meet
and share experiences with other
care workers, with the majority ex-
pressing an interest in attending
similar events in the future.
The Netwell Centre will continue to
support initiatives which enhance the
quality of life of older people and
which promote the healthy lifestyle
agenda amongst their carers.
“I have learnt so much
about older people that I
was not aware of before.
This was really excellent ”.
“...successful ageing...the ability to
maintain 3 key behaviours: low risk
of disease / disability, high mental
and physical health, and active
engagement life” Krondl et al, 2008).

4. Food Safety Authority (2000). Recommendations for a National Food and
Nutrition Policy for Older People. Dublin: Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Harris, M.and Richards, K. (2010). The physiological and psychological
effects of slow-stroke back massage and hand massage on relaxation in
older people, Journal of Clinical Nursing Volume 19, Numbers 7-8, April
2010 , pp. 917 926(10)
Krondl M., Coleman, P., and Lau, D (2008) “Helping Older Adults meet
Nutritional Challenges” Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly,volume 27,
number 3, pages 205-220
If you have any queries regarding this newsletters, contact:
Lucia Carragher T: 042 937 0400 ext: 2677
E: lucia.carragher@netwellcentre.org
Regional Development Centre
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dublin Road, Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Tel: +353 (0)42 937 0497
Fax: +353 (0)42 933 1163
E-mail: info@netwellcentre.org
Netwell Centre
References
We are on the web:
www.netwellcentre.org
...TransformingCommunities,Environments&TechnologiesforAgeing-in-Place
...Transforming Communities,
Environments and Technologies for
ageing-in-place.
The Netwell Centre Cúltaca liaise between the older people and service providers, including care work-
ers, to support and empower older people.
If you would like to speak to our Cúltaca for older people, contact:
Ann Marron, T: 042 939 1078 E: ann.marron@netwelllcentre.org or
Pat Kerins, T: 042 937 0531 E: patrick.kerins@netwelllcentre.org