Readying Senior Adults to Reduce Sodium Intake

TITLE: READYING SENIOR ADULTS TO REDUCE SODIUM INTAKE

AUTHOR(S): L. Tansman, MS, RD; Department of Clinical Nutrition,The Mount Sinai Hospital and Department of Community and PreventiveMedicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand the importance of repeatednutrition intervention on the stages of readiness to change.

TEXT: Nearly 1 in 3 adults have hypertension, the incidence greateramongst African Americans. Dietary modifications to managehypertension include sodium restriction. This project identifies theimportance of repeated nutrition intervention in helping senior adultsprogress through stages of readiness to change in their attempt to reducesodium intake. As part of a grant to provide community nutritionintervention, this describes the experience at a senior center in EastHarlem in New York City. The mostly African American population was�70 years and approximately 75% of the regular attendees (25) wereunder medical therapy for hypertension. While the prospect of nutritionintervention was welcomed by the executive administration, the managerfor this center demonstrated reluctance, yet conceded to the intervention.A weekly program on healthy eating was provided for 3 weeks which hadthe seniors and the manager enthusiastic enough to request moreprograms. A follow-up program set the stage for clients progressing fromthe contemplation stage to the preparation stage for change. Nutritionprograms continued to be provided bimonthly. While the format for eachdiffered, the underlying message was the same. That is, getting theseniors to adopt healthier eating habits. At the close of the grant period,the seniors had demonstrated their readiness to change by replacing saltshakers on the center’s tables with balsamic vinegar and salt-freeseasoning. The constant reinforcement of healthy eating habits over 18months had taken these seniors through the stages of readiness to changeand which resulted in the stage of action.

FUNDING DISCLOSURE: Indirect Vitamins Purchasers AntitrustLitigation Settlement administered by the Attorney General; State of NewYork.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23

POSTER SESSION: NUTRITION ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY

Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-33