Enhancing Nutrition Education for Older Adults: Open Hand Atlanta’s Companion Program

Introduction

Open Hand Atlanta, a recipient of a 2020 Administration for Community Living Innovations in Nutrition research grant, aspired to expand evidence-based nutrition education provided by a Registered Dietitian to older adults across the state of Georgia. The pilot program aimed at providing group nutrition education to participants at congregate meal sites and individual nutrition coaching to older adults considered high nutrition risk by the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI). In efforts to expand services during this innovation period, Open Hand partnered with Claris Healthcare to provide Claris Companion Tablets to older adults that would otherwise not have access to technology, would like to try using new technology, and are interested in nutrition education. 

This initiative effectively addressed the Digital Divide for older adults in rural Georgia. The Claris Companion Tablets are equipped with their own Wi-Fi and are user friendly for participants that are newer to technology. The Claris Companion Tablet capabilities allowed the Registered Dietitian to create daily nutrition–themed content, message with participants, meet individuals virtually for individualized nutrition coaching (Medical Nutrition Therapy), upload healthy recipes, and provide access to an on-demand nutrition video library that was at no cost to the participant. 

Open Hand set up 25 older adults with tablets who were located at senior centers, residential buildings, and home-delivered meal clients. With these participants, we were able to try various ways to deliver nutrition education. We found that meeting every other week for group nutrition education was the most effective for engagement and continued interest with the tablets. With the assistance of senior center staff, participants have had an increase in their confidence in trying technology they did not have previously. One senior center will have a graduation ceremony with the participants to congratulate them for trying something new. For this group the Registered Dietitian was able to complete initial nutrition assessments with participants to meet their individual nutrition needs and receive anecdotal feedback on the tablets.

Interview

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Open Hand Atlanta Director, Laura Samnadda:

1. What led you to start this program? Tell us a little about the inception stage of this idea.

Our tablet program started while we were implementing nutrition education with older adults as part of a pilot project funded by the Administration for Community Living. Our pilot project was created to implement VIRTUAL group and individual nutrition education for older adults living in rural Georgia.

During our individual nutrition sessions so many of the older adults did not have access to the internet and internet based devices, nor were familiar with Zoom so we started researching technology solutions to solve this problem. Over the course of the pandemic I listened to many webinars hosted by the older adult network and heard about Claris through a variety of speakers, then I heard that one of our partners, Sowega Council on Aging in Georgia used Claris for their programming. If they were happy with the product, then I knew we needed to implement them too.

2. What type of virtual content and programming are being provided to your seniors? 

We provide daily nutrition-themed content, individualized coaching, healthy recipes, and a nutrition video library made accessible through the tablets. Bi-weekly group sessions, individual assessments, and interactive tools like food label discussions and virtual kitchen tours enhanced engagement and learning.

We started with 10 Claris tablets where we wanted to implement Medical Nutrition Therapy which is one-on-one sessions with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As we started hosting the sessions with the older adults who received a tablet, we started hearing how they wanted to connect with each other, receive more nutrition content such as recipes, videos, exercise links, and other nutrition related content. This was exciting since we had already created a bunch of nutrition education content as part of the ACL grant we received. It was so easy to upload the nutrition handouts with recipes and exercise links. We also scheduled group education classes where they could connect with the RDN twice a month. One session was geared towards a nutrition education lesson and the second session was open to “ask the RDN” and gain other support they might need from the RDN or each other as they embarked with having tablets in their hands.

3. What results have you seen from seniors on the program? Have there been any measurements related to their eating habits, or improvements in diet?

We are still analyzing the data collected through the program, but anecdotally, clients have started to learn how important nutrition education has been for them. They have mentioned changes they have made include improving their diet or better self-management of their chronic condition.

One of the participants said this “The program was beneficial to me, especially the information on resources, foods, exercises etc.”

4. What testimonials have you received from seniors enrolled in the program?

We have been working with a senior center in Pierce County in South Georgia. They have been receiving individual medical nutrition therapy, group education, handouts, recipes, and other nutrition quizzes on the tablet. At first, the older adults were hesitant about tablets.

By the end of the program, they were proficient and operating the tablets like pros. Their senior center director held a graduation ceremony for them on the last day they were using the tablets. We were all so proud of how far they had come!

After the program one participant said “I really enjoyed the tablet, there’s some good recipes on there and I’m going to try them. Thank you all.”