Second Trimester Success Story

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates, the largest population that is increasing in Kentucky are baby bombers (person born between 1946 and 1964), the 2014 census estimate that population over 60 years old was over 925,000, 21% and is expected to increase to 1.17 million by 2030 or 25.6% and according to the Cornell University Disability Status Report 33.4% of Kentucky’s population ages 65-74 have some form of disability. It also important to know that Kentucky ranks the fifth state for the highest poverty rate for older adults according to Administration on Community living’s “A Profile of Older American”.

The Williamsburg Senior Citizen Community Center provide a lunch for the seniors of the community, Monday to Friday with exception of Wednesday, I worked with a group of 18 seniors once a week for 9 weeks using the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum, the group 100% white, non-Hispanic, the youngest participant was 63 and the older 94.

I incorporated exercises tips during each session and they were really surprised about the fact that you can do exercise while sitting in a chair. One of the major challenges from them is to cook for one or two, I introduce them to smoothies, most of them never had one, the goal was to show an easy way to get vegetables and fruit in a daily base. But the most important feedback was about sugar awareness and the fact that there is add of sugar in many process food and also in drinks.

The seniors also changed the crackers that they have for snack, from white to wheat.

One of the participants, a female 64 years old, has cut the amount of sugar for her family by decreasing the amount of sugary beverages that they buy.

Overall the participant express more awareness of serving sizes and what it means a more balanced diet