Program duration: 01/02/2019 - 31/12/2019
Improving the quality of life for the elderly in Central Greece Region (Sterea Ellada)
For numerous years, Prolepsis Institute has implemented projects on raising awareness and training older people and has carried out significant research on preventive medicine and health promotion. Within this context, a special program on supporting the elderly is implemented by Prolepsis Institute in the Region of Central Greece (Sterea Ellada). The program was launched in February 2019 and implemented with funding from the Region of Central Greece (Sterea Ellada).
The key and most immediate objectives of this program are:
o To investigate and record the physiological and pathological changes that occur with aging and the socio-economic and psychological factors associated with poor nutritional status in the elderly.
o To inform and raise awareness among the elderly about the benefits of healthy nutrition and of maintaining physical and mental health and therefore improving their quality of life.
o To inform and raise awareness among the elderly and health professionals about preventing household accidents for people aged 65 and older.
It is essential to point out that injuries from a fall are among the most common ones in the elderly causing pain, disability, dependency and premature death. Each year, almost 28-35% of people aged 65 and older fall. This percentage increases in people aged over 70 years old. Additionally, the risk of an accident caused by fire increases significantly as a person gets older. People aged 65 and older are at a particularly high risk for poisoning, mainly due to large amounts of medication, detergents and other chemicals as well as incorrect food handling and storage. In fact, many of the chronic non-transmittable diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, type 2 diabetes) are also related to nutrition, therefore providing information on adopting healthy eating habits is crucial.
In the context of this program, special educational material will be designed and information actions will be developed on improving quality of life through healthy diet and preventing accidents at home. Additionally, presentations addressed to leaders and employees of Recreation Centers for senior citizens (Κ.Α.Π.Η.) and to health professionals will be carried out. These activities will be held in cities of the regional units of Evia, Fthiotis, Fokis, Viotia and Evrytania.
See below:
Information booklet “Preventing accidents at home”
Brochure ”Healthy Eating Habits for Older People”
Contact Information
Dina Zota, MSc, PhD: d.zota@prolepsis.gr
