UNAIR NEWS – Nonoptimal nutritional intake and lack of knowledge on nutrition and health make the elderly vulnerable to health problems. Moreover, the management of food in the nursing home is not usually done professionally and has not paid attention to the condition of the disease suffered by the elderly.
To answer these problems, a lecturer and students of S1 (Undergraduate Study Progam) Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) carried out another community service program at UPTD Griya Werdha Surabaya. Improving the nutritional and health status of the elderly is the goal of the community service.
Community service activity led by Farapti, dr., M.Gizi is carried out periodically from June to September 2021. The initial activity was carried out on Friday, June 25, 2021, by providing nutrition education. On the next day, a health check was done by checking blood pressure, blood sugar level, body composition, nutritional status assessment, and nutritional counseling.
For the elderly, Farapti focused on discussing food intake and nutritional needs. To measure the success of the activity, pre and post-tests were carried out. Prizes were also given to the elderly, who managed to answer the questions correctly.
Furthermore, mentoring activities for elderly diet managers were done by observing menus, evaluating the elderly’s leftovers, and training on menu management based on diseases suffered by the elderly.
At the end of the activity, the community service team provided recipes for food menus that match the nutritional needs and acceptance of the elderly. Hopefully, a balanced nutritional menu and disease-based diet can be applied by elderly food managers after receiving intensive assistance.
“With this community service, hopefully, we can provide nutritional knowledge to the elderly and service management to food managers and handlers,” she said.
The upcoming schedule from July to September is assistance in the application of disease-based diets and evaluation of leftovers and the elderly’s preferences. (*)
Author: Viradyah Lulut Santosa
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh (YA/AP)