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Iowa Healthy Links | Healthy Aging Update I Food Guide Pyramid I You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging I Chef Charles Club I Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program I Driving and Diabetes I Nutrition and Dietary Resources

Nutrition Program- The Department of Elder Affairs has a nutrition program that is designed to improve clients' health through improved nutritional intake. This is accomplished by providing meals and nutrition education. Meals meet nutrition standards, providing at least one third of the recommended nutrient daily intake. Emphasis is placed on serving older Iowans with the greatest social and economic need, the frail elderly, and on reducing isolation. Funding for these meals is provided by the Older Americans Act and administered by the Administration on Aging, along with individual contributions and local funds. Additional meals are also provided with funding from the Senior Living Trust Fund and Medicaid Elderly Waiver program. For information about nutrition programs in your area, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

The Department of Elder Affairs nutritionist addresses issues of nutrition and health for older Iowans.

• The Iowa Congregate Nutrition Program 2007
• Read a Nutrition Policy Paper published by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (on the N4A website- available in PDF Format).

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Iowa Healthy Links Program- The Department of Elder Affairs, with its full partner, the Iowa Department of Public Health are implementing Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self management Program and EnhanceFitness Program through a grant from the Administration on Aging, administered by the National Council on Aging. These workshops are being sponsored by three Area Agencies on Aging, their partner county health departments, and key stakeholders.
The workshops are designed for older Iowans with chronic diseases, such as, arthritis, heart disease, stoke, asthma, lung disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, or stroke. During the six (6) weekly workshops the participants learn how to better manager their symptoms. Success has been reported in how participants feel about their health, have more energy, less frustration, sleep better, experience reductions in stress. 
Presently, the Iowa Healthy Links Program is being implemented in four counties in Iowa, Black Hawk, Linn, and Polk. For additional information about participating in the workshops contact Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, or Aging Resources Area Agency on Aging. For general information on Iowa Healthy links contact kay.corriere@iowa.gov.

Healthy Aging Update - This is a bi-monthly newsletter developed by the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. The electronic newsletter provides information on nutrition and general healthy aging topics. The newsletter is meant to provide readers with the latest information on healthy aging.

• June 1, 2008 - OAA Nutrition Program: Food and Nutrition for Independent Living, OAA medical information, Iowa Healthy Links, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Americans Living Longer, Stroke Awareness, Generations Salute to Seniors

• April 1, 2008 - Fall Prevention, IAC Disease Prevention, Evidence Based Health Promotion, Senior Hunger, Iowa Food Stamp Program, Senior Farmers Market, Siouxland W.A.I.S.T., Pandemic Stories

• February 1, 2008 - Diabetes, Screening is Cost Effective, Medical Nutrition Therapy, OAA Nutrition Counseling, Senior Who Can Pay for Meals, INAPIS Highlights, National Nutrition Month, Chef Charles Club
  

Visit the Healthy Aging Update Archives to view past issues.

• 2007
• 2006
• 2005

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The New Food Guide Pyramid- One size doesn't fit all when it comes to getting the most out of our diet and exercise. Because of the need for individualized recommendations, the new Food Pyramid is designed to do just that. MyPyramid Plan can help you choose the foods and amounts that are right for you. For a quick estimate of what and how much you need to eat, enter your age, sex, and activity level in the MyPyramid Plan box on the USDA web site http://www.mypyramid.gov. For a detailed assessment of your food intake and physical activity level, click on MyPyramid Tracker.

Use the advice "Inside MyPyramid" to help you

• Make smart choices from every food group,
• Find your balance between food and physical activity, and
• Get the most nutrition out of your calories.

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You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging

Today there are 436,213 Iowans over the age of 65. Many individuals are aging well and living longer than any time in history, but still far too many people are inactive and sedentary.

We can do more, and our best weapons are literally in our own hands: the food we choose to eat, and the activities that get us moving. Older adults tend to be healthier, feel better, and maintain their mobility and independence longer when they take these simple steps. Learn more about a program from the Administration on Aging that provide group classes on nutrition and physical activity. The "You Can!" program is available through many of the Iowa Area Agencies on Aging and congregate meal sites. To learn more about the "You Can!" campaign visit http://www.aoa.gov/youcan/about/consumer_info.asp . Ask your Area Agency on Aging about the availability of "You Can!" programs in your area.

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Chef Charles Club: Nutrition Program for Older Adults- Many older adults are not consuming a diet that will help them stay as healthy as possible. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), only 33 percent of older adults in Iowa report eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Unfortunately poor nutritional health hastens many diseases associated with aging. As older adults chronically consume an inadequate diet, they are more likely to have an unhealthy weight, experience decline in both mental and physical health, and have a higher risk of dying.

Older adults want to stay healthy, active and independent. Good nutrition and physically activity are necessary to achieve this goal. To provide information about good nutrition and physical activity the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs is promoting the Chef Charles Nutrition education program developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education. The program includes monthly newsletters for older adults and companion materials for presenting nutrition education based on the newsletters. Chef Charles materials may be accessed at http://www.idph.state.ia.us/nutritionnetwork/chef_charles.asp

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Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program- Iowa is one of the state agencies and tribal organizations to receive USDA funds for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The SFMNP provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh produce at farmers' markets.

These grants provide low-income seniors the opportunity to enrich their diets with highly nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. Local farmers benefit from the program as well by attracting more customers to their markets for farm fresh products.

In 2007, 20,869 older Iowans participated in the SFMNP and $584,020 in vouchers was distributed.

The SFMNP vouchers are being distributed by the Iowa Area Agencies on Aging. For specific information about obtaining the SFMNP vouchers you may contact your AAA directly at http://www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs/aaa/aaacontact.html

Additional information about the SFMNP is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns ,  http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/farmersMarketNutritionProgram.asp, and http://www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs/Documents/Nutrition/srfarmersmarket.pdf

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Driving and Diabetes - Driving is a complex skill. The ability to drive safely can be affected by changes in physical, emotional and mental conditions. The American Diabetes Association and the U.S. Department of Transportation have developed a brochure to give you information on driving when you have diabetes. Take a look at the brochure and obtain additional information at this web site. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/diabetes%20web/index.html#Anchor-40100

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• Functional Foods - Food with an Extra Kick!

• The Secret to Serving Size is in Your Hand

• Making Healthy Food Choices

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans

• Determine your Nutritional Health

• 5 A Day for Fruits and Vegetables

• What About Water?

• Food Safety
  

• Stretching Your Food Dollar

Disclaimer: The Department of Elder Affairs provides information about food and human nutrition. The materials found on this website are not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed health care professional.