Susan
Thank you for synthesizing all the information that you received from everyone
on the list. Sometimes it becomes confusing following all the threads but you
connected them for the rest of us!
Maryann Kusmirski
Susan Lilley wrote:
> Recently I posted a request for information, suggestions, examples
> relating to writing about population health for the rural senior
> volunteers. I received numerous responses and I wish to thank all of you
> who took the time to send in your thoughts.
>
> I have since prepared an outline for a series of articles, and drafted the
> first of these. While I am not free to circulate my work through the list
> serve at this time, I will share it with any of you who request it after
> it is published. However, I do want to share all of the suggestions I
> received from people on the list serve. Some excellent work has been done
> in this area.
>
> These are the resources that people recommended:
>
> Series of articles on health determinants produced by the
> Saskatchewan Public Health Association
> http://www.cpha.ca/english/policy/pstatem/hdeterm/list.htm
>
> Making Connections: A Community Affair, produced by the Health
> Determinants Partnership in Ontario. The brochure includes stories and
> pointers for people who would like to create healthier communities. You
> can download a free copy of this guide at
> www.making-connections.com.
>
> Building a Healthy Future, the popular version of The 2nd Report on the
> Health of Canadians
> http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/phdd/resources/Building_e.pdf
>
> "Inspiring Change: Healthy Cities and Communities in Ontario" from the
> Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. Available for $10 through the
> following website
> www.opc.on.ca/ohcc or email [log in to unmask]
>
> The Ottawa Charter www.who.dk
>
> "Social determinants of health: the solid facts."
> http://www.who.dk/healthy-cities
>
> Community quality of life approach
> http://www.utoronto.ca/qol/communit.htm
>
> I would also add the article in Newsweek, that Dennis sent around
> yesterday:
> Is Our Society Making You Sick? Americas health lags behind that of more
> egalitarian nations. Economic equality is the medicine we need By Stephen
> Bezruchka, M.D NEWSWEEK Feb. 26 2001 issue My Turn section
> http://www.msnbc.com/news/532083.asp
>
> Others wrote with tips on popular writing, working with senior volunteers,
> and rural life in general. For brevity, I won't include all of these.
> Here is an edited sampling:
>
> You must use very user friendly language, grade 6 to 8 level
> approximately, very few scientific terms. If you can put in drawings, or
> other visuals that are somewhat comical, yet to the point, that would be
> very useful. Use as few words as possible to put the message across.
> Make it interactive if you can: crossword puzzles, questions and answer,
> find the missing part (with answer somewhere else in the newsletter). Make
> it positive with very few 'do not's. ( I have worked as literacy
> coordinator for three years; this is where this stuff comes from). Try to
> make them 'identify' by using little anecdotes or short case histories
> with a positive ending (hopefully). Ask for feedback in one way or
> another: small contests (inexpensive, but attractive I mean. It could be
> a book or a brochure they can get for free.). Games, humour, simple
> sketches, rewards, you know that kind of stuff.
>
> ****
>
> In my experience a lot of the "general" public (at least in BC) have
> absorbed the lifestyle messages quite well. The challenge is to get them
> to the collective aspects. It might be easier in the Atlantic provinces
> because people have more of a culture of helping each other out.
>
> ****
>
> My experience has been that communities know intrinsically what keeps them
> healthy; what they often lack is information about contacts, existing
> programs and how to organize/take leadership.
>
> ****
>
> I have some thoughts on this as I work with many seniors as volunteers
> doing health promotion. Here are some things I have found: Seniors like
> to work with others, when teaching fitness, if there are a few of them
> they can share the work, inspire each other, and if one is good at the
> warm ups and another likes the cool down, then they can stay within their
> comfort zone which they appreciate. Also, we found that many promote
> health to individuals, by being a companion, helping out the person,
> one-on ones, sharing our health prevention information can make a real
> difference. We also found that the volunteers liked to promote information
> that was fun and interesting and limited to one page, the true and false
> health quizzes we have are very popular for getting dialogue going. We
> found that volunteers also liked to be able to have resource materials to
> give away, hand out free samples and little gifts. Seniors also liked to
> pick up resource materials to digest at their leisure and share with
> others. They also liked having videos to show and resource persons to give
> the sessions, volunteers set up the session, make everyone welcome,
> introduce the speaker or the video. Volunteers also like to do different
> things like man a display booth, be an adviser, answer questions, make
> sure promotional material are always available. They don't necessarily
> have to deliver health promotion directly to contribute and make a
> difference. Senior volunteers also love to teach fitness to other seniors
> and there has to be free training, free CPR and on-going support on at
> least a tri-monthly basis for volunteers. These are some of my experiences
> with seniors and health promotion.
>
> Thanks once again for your support.
>
> --
> Susan Lilley
> 7 Canterbury Place
> Dartmouth NS B2Y 4J5
> Tel: (902) 463-1837
> Fax: (902) 469-0833
> http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~LilleyS/Profile.html
--
Maryann Kusmirski
Executive Director
Alberta Public Health Association
47 Marilyn St
Caledon East, ON L0N 1E0
905-584-5209
Fax: 905-584-5277
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