Small steps for Big Changes

Dehydration is a health concern for everyone, especially for mentally challenged adults who often just drink whatever they’re in the habit of drinking.  Dehydration can lead to serious health complications. The clients at the Opportunity Center often fail to recognize the early signs of dehydration and the connection between drinking water and their overall health.  The Supplemental Nutrition Education assistant from Muhlenberg County offers the Healthy Choices for Everybody classes to groups at the Opportunity Center.  The Opportunity Center is an adult day center and job training site for mentally challenged adults in our community.

A problem identified by the director of the center was how much soda clients and the client service advocates were drinking during the day.  Not only was it unhealthy, it was also putting a strain on many of their limited budgets.  At her request, the SNAP assistant began the classes with the Better Beverage Choices, Drink Water First lesson.  

At the conclusion of the first lesson, a challenge was offered to replace at least one of their sodas with water, clients and CSAs signed a poster pledge that was on display on the wall in the day room.  When the assistant returned two weeks later, 24 of the 32 class members stated that had completed their goal, they received NEP water bottles for their efforts, and they were challenged to replace 2 sugary drinks with water during the day.   Two weeks later six more clients and CSA’s for a total of 30 out of 32 were able to say they had completed their challenge.

Other staff members and clients were encouraged by the group’s success and the director made the decision to remove the drink machine from their day room and they now have a Water First policy with meals and at break time.  The staff started keeping a water log, and continues to reward clients for their efforts.

Each time the assistant returns to the facility the clients are excited to share with her how many cups of water they are now drinking at work.