Hostels Healthy Lifestyles Program Outcomes

The HealthRight Healthy Lifestyles Program has given over 100 people with mental illness living in 3 Perth hostels the opportunity to lead healthier lives. The program, sponsored by Healthway, aimed to increase awareness of and participation in health and lifestyle behaviours for people living with mental illness, including nutrition, weight management and physical activity strategies.

Commencing in February 2008, the Healthy Lifestyles Program strategies included:

• The development and implementation of a program for residents which included: education on physical activity and healthy eating; regular weigh- ins and planting and tending a herb garden.
• The development and implementation of a program for kitchen staff which included: the introduction of a healthy portion plates; new menu options to reduce portions, sugar and fats and processed foods.
• Nutrition guidelines were developed which included: reducing meat and poultry; increasing vegetables and salad; eliminating refined cereals; introducing wholegrain breads; reducing sweet snacks and desserts. Download Healthy Food Guidelines here.
• A virtual “Walk to Albany” which involved walking with residents to local parks and counting steps with a pedometers

Nutritionist Jo Beer was met with some definite challenges in motivating residents to get active and overall weight loss amongst residents was minimal. However feedback from residents suggests they were enjoying the new foods and did not miss the old menus. Staff suggested they had ‘learnt a lot’ and had noticed that the residents were ‘looking healthy and were not as hungry’