BEING THE ADDRESS PRESENTED BY OMOLOLA ADAMS OLATAYO RN, RPHN, BNSc AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF FODOR, IGBAJO, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA.

All protocols duly observed
Good morning everybody, am Nurse Omolola Adams Olatayo, am a Registered Public Health Nurse.
Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. A geriatric is an individual that is chronologically above 50 years old. As you are all gathered here, you are looking cheerful, great, neat, and radiant. Even though the weather is cold majority of you wear pullover. Its my joy seeing old one looking healthy. keep it up and you can all do better. Let me highlight certian points about old age:
Old age is not a disease condition rather its physiological changes in the body system.
it's a process of milestone development from adulthood o old age.
it's a natural phenomenon whereby all functioning organs depreciate as you grow old.
at this age there are unique physiological needs and health needs that are different from the younger adult body.
The decline in physiological reserve in organs makes the elderly develop some kind of diseases.
older adults ave special healthcare needs that make thier medical care more complicated.
caring for older people with multiple health problems can be tricky even for healthcare professional who specialise in geriatrics.

The primary focus of FODOR this morning is GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT. Bassem and Kim (2011), stated that the geriatric assessment is a multidimensional, multidisciplinary assessment designed to evaluate an older person's functional ability, physical health, cognition and mental health, and socioenvironmental circumstances. It is usually initiated when the physician identifies a potential problem. Specific elements of the physical health that are evaluated include nutrition, vision, hearing, fecal and urinary continence, and balance. The geriatric assessment aids in the diagnosis of medical conditions, development of treatment and follow up plans, coordination of management of care, and evaluation of long term care needs and optimal placement.
According to Madeline (2016), there are (15) fifteen most common health concerns for seniors which include:
Arthritis
Heart Disease
Cancer
Respiratory Diseases
Alzheimer's Disease
Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Influenza & Pneumonia
Falls
Substance Abuse
Obesity
Depression
Oral health
Poverty
Shingles

Today , FODOR will asess three basics health needs through the help of the convener of this community health reach NURSE ADEGBITE ADEWALE. There are experienced, competents and diligent nurses and doctor here today.
Weight and Height : This is to calculate your BMI i.e. Basal Metabolic Index which shall translate your nutritional status.
Random Blood Sugar / Fasting Blood Sugar : with this we can determine who is living with diabetes, borderline diabetes and risk of diabetes with prompt adequate treatment.
Blood Pressure: It will serve as baseline data, to diagnose hypertension, borderline and risk. Also to provide comprehensive care through a functional referral system.

SIMPLE WAYS TO PREVENT ILLNESS IN OLDER AGE
The above mentioned health concerns are major health challenges of older people. You can prevent the occurrence based on the following precautions:
Good dietary Style
Adequate sleep
Drinking adequate water
Passive Exercise
Avoid tobacco sniffing and alcohol
Engage in less strenuous farming
Always have warmth / hot bath during cold season.
Wear pull over / cardigan all the time
Reduce intake of salt otherwise avoid it
Reduce eating of meat (red/white) otherwise avoid it
Dried fish, locust beans, vegetables, Cray - fish, fruits etc, are best food for you at this stage. For those with fallen teeth, for conviniency you can smashed them.
Regularly take your bath
Prompt Medical check up
Seek medical care when feeling unusual.

In conclusion, I want to salute the courage of NURSE ADEGBITE ADEWALE for organising this programme. I want to urge you all to make use of this event to improve your health status and follow simple precautionary measures.
Thank you all for listening.

OMOLOLA ADAMS OLATAYO
adamsolatayo@gmail. com
(Translated version of Yoruba Language)
REFERENCE
Bassem Elsawy, Kim E. Higgins (2011). The Geriatric Assessment, American Family Physician, 1:83 (1):48 - 56.
Healthinaging. org (2012). Aging & Health A TO Z www. healthinaging.org
Madeline R. Vann (2016). The 15 most common Health Concerns fo Seniors. www. everydayhealth. com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors
Wikipedia : Geriatrics https://en. m. Wikipedia. org