Screenings of seniors seeking health and nutrition services through Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri found most had symptoms of high blood pressure.
Realizing the majority of those clients suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), the nonprofit decided to offer a program that could address the issue, said Judith Mutamba, director of Catholic Charities' nutrition services.
The nonprofit has implemented the Mid-Missouri Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring program -- placing trained program facilitators in community locations (churches, health departments and service agencies) to easily reach program enrollees in Boone and Cole counties.
Twenty-five facilitators have undertaken Centers for Disease Control and Prevention training to offer the program. Following training, facilitators may teach program enrollees how to effectively use a blood pressure monitor, which the program loans to them at no cost.
Facilitators will meet with program participants weekly, and follow up by email, text or phone to ensure participants stay on target with self-monitoring over four months. Enrollees are also required to attend one nutrition education seminar each month during the program.
Screenings that may identify potential clients in the program will continue, Mutamba said.
Staff at the nonprofit will encourage clients who come in for the food pantry, which will open next month, to participate in the health screenings.
Catholic Charities hopes to launch counseling with clients Feb. 14, Mutamba said, in part because the holiday is strongly associated with the heart.
Facilitators will teach program enrollees to use blood pressure monitors, which will be loaned to them.
The nonprofit may connect clients with nutrition classes MU Extension offers. It will refer them to other health-oriented programs taking place in the community.
The program technically lasts for four months.
But, clients are expected to continue practicing what they learn for much longer.
"It's a lifetime change," Mutamba said. "They don't change their habits overnight. Those people we enroll have to be in the program for four months continuously. We don't have a beginning or an end."