Counseling and examination related to the prevention of hypertension and diabetes in the elderly

Abstract

Aging brings various health challenges, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which can affect the quality of life of the elderly. This study aims to identify the prevalence of these two diseases in Kepatihan Village, Kaliwates District, Jember Regency, and evaluate the effectiveness of health education in managing them. Community service activities include initial examinations that show a high prevalence of hypertension and prediabetes among the elderly, with only a few having normal blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The program involves health examinations, disease prevention and control education, and re-examination two weeks after the education. The results showed that older adults with normal blood pressure increased from 3 to 8 people, and regular blood sugar levels increased from 5 to 21 people. A significant decrease in cases of prehypertension and diabetes indicates the success of the education in increasing participants' awareness and knowledge about managing their health. However, high initial health conditions and limited resources remain barriers. This program shows the effectiveness of education in reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among the elderly but requires continued efforts to support more sustainable health improvements