Applied Project: Senior Steps
CC by Moyan Brenn
For my applied project I will be coordinating with the Plymouth Regional Senior Center and the Health and Human Performance (HHP) Club. We will be putting together a two-day health program that incorporates both exercise and nutrition. The seniors will vote for which form of exercise they want to participate in and which meal they want to cook. The program will take place at either the Senior Center, ALLWell North or a local outdoor location where the exercise activity may be held. Volunteers from the HHP Club and I will put together the schedule for both days and ensure it is packed full of tips to help the seniors improve or maintain their health.
This project is important because it helps students at PSU reach a population in need. The senior population is increasing rapidly and they need to be cared for. This will build a connection between PSU students and the center. This project will also help seniors practice healthy habits and incorporate fresh ideas for them to include in their daily lives. On my ePort I will document the progress of the event once a week. This will include everything from what activity the seniors decided on to what materials we will need. I will finalize the project by writing a well-developed reflection of the entire event.
My Health Science major is centered around my future career as a nurse. Being a nurse is all about helping other people be as healthy as they can be. This project centers around the idea of bettering people’s physical, emotional and social well-being. PSU students will benefit from volunteering their time and knowing they helped other people. I think it will make everyone who participates feel better and hopefully even help educate some of the seniors about their health.
Timeline:
3/1: Talk to the activities coordinator at Plymouth Regional Senior Center
3/8: Meet with the HHP Club about volunteering
3/15: Create flyer and newsletter write-up for two-day health program
3/22: Create exercise/meal ballot so seniors can vote on activities
3/29: Set the date and book necessary spaces
4/5: Prepare all necessary materials for both days
4/12: Finalize volunteer list and coordinate transportation
Week of 4/17: Senior Steps two-day health program!
4/26: Recap with HHP and talk about pros and cons
5/3: Release of reflection
Research Article: Eat Yourself to Health
CC by 1sock
For my research article I will investigate the ways in which nutrition can influence our health. The main subject I will address is food as medicine. This will cover different diets, eating disorders, obesity, diabetes, mental health, and access to healthy food. I want to cover nutrition from an interdisciplinary perspective and incorporate as many of the factors that influence people as possible. The research will target successful nutrition habits and how they have helped certain populations.
I think this topic is extremely important especially with the abundance of health information out there today. Everywhere you look there is a new article about what is healthy. Our society is full of contradictions about what we should and should not eat. I want to use reliable sources to convey how certain health issues have been treated with proper nutrition. I also want to share how certain habits or dietary changes can impact a person’s health. This type of research will increase the knowledge of my readers and myself to help influence others to make healthy choices.
As a future nurse I would love to increase my knowledge of nutrition. I think what we put into our bodies is half the health battle. Learning about food and certain dietary lifestyles will expand my perspective. It is important that I can help patients in many aspects of life and what they are eating is certainly a factor. The more I learn the more I can help others so I am looking forward to diving into this research project.
Timeline:
3/8: Start collection of reliable sources and meet with the library help desk
3/22: Finish collection of sources and notes, organize them into sections
4/5: Complete introduction
4/19: Interview with a health professional at PSU
4/26: Complete draft 1
5/3: Add multi-media aspects such as hyperlinks, pictures, and/or videos
5/10: Visit writing center and complete final draft, publish article
Health Science 
I like both of these ideas, and like the idea that your RA could be something you share with the folks from the AP as well! Both of these have the potential to be really, really impactful and amazing (or also potentially just average or uninspiring); it really has to do with the legwork you put in on both of these, but if you really buckle down, I honestly think you could have a FABULOUS capstone semester and end up with work that we could use as an example for future semesters. Can’t wait to see how it all goes!
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I think its wonderful that you have your research article and project connect in a huge way. It’s like you’re bringing to life the paper your writing, while writing it! Your idea centering around Nursing care and bringing together the community is a perfect thing to do for Nursing, especially doing it in a healthful way. If i could say, maybe adding a little more to the look of the presentation. Perhaps adding some color, a few more pictures or something would really make this shine! Regardless, you have a great project and paper going here.
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I really like the idea of doing your research article centered around nutrition. Not only will your research impact the readers themselves, but also increase your own knowledge for the future care of your patients! And regardless of what you finally decide to do with your applied project, I believe you will be great at anything involved with bettering the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the individual. Let me know how it goes!
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I really liked all of your ideas for your research project. I am also working along the lines of nutrition for my research article and applied project but it’s interesting to see you taking a different path with it. I think that nutrition has such a big influence on our health in so many ways. I can also relate to you because I hope to be a nurse one day in the future, but also take an extra interest in nutrition as well as the medical aspect of the occupation. Nutrition and health is one of the most important things in life, and it’s important to educate people as much as we can about it. As for your applied project, I think it’s such a great idea to create a two day health program especially since it is reaching out to populations in need. The elderly population is growing rapidly, and nurses and specialists are always needed for that age group. I think there is so much to learn about the geriatric community and it would be fun to help them lead a healthier lifestyle!
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