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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Community Programs to Improve Health for Senior
Citizens Funded by HHS
Older Americans disproportionately affected by
chronic diseases and conditions
July 6, 2006 Senior citizens in American are
disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and conditions and
Health and Human Services is contributing $15 million to fund a
collaboration with The Atlantic Philanthropies to improve the health and
quality of life for older Americans at the community level.
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Health & Medicine |
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HHS cited chronic diseases and conditions such as
arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, as well as by disabilities that
result from injuries such as falls that disproportionately affect senior
citizens. Chronic conditions currently limit activities for 12 million
older Americans living in communities. These conditions collectively
account for seven out of every 10 deaths, and more than three-quarters
of all health expenditures in the United States.
The HHS research has generated a growing body of
scientific evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that can help
older people to improve their health status by better managing their
chronic diseases, improving their nutrition and diet, exercising more,
and avoiding injuries such as falls.
Building on that knowledge base and subject to the
availability of funding, HHS will support efforts over three years in up
to 12 states to mobilize public/private collaborations that will support
the delivery of evidence-based programs for seniors at the community
level.
These programs will be administered at the
community level through non-profit aging services provider
organizations, such as senior centers, nutrition programs, senior
housing projects and faith-based organizations. At least 30 local
communities will have programs up and running within a year. HHS is
providing support to the Center for Healthy Aging at the National
Council on Aging (NCOA) to provide technical assistance to the state
grantees and local projects.
In addition, through a grant of up to $5 million to
the Center for Healthy Aging, The Atlantic Philanthropies will provide
additional financial support and technical assistance in up to five
states that show significant potential in developing systems to reach
large numbers of older adults.
This collaboration, led by the Administration on
Aging (AoA) and involving several HHS agencies, states, and various
public and private organizations at the community level, will empower
older people to take more control of their own health through life style
and behavioral changes that have proven effective in reducing the risk
of disease and disability among the elderly, HHS Secretary Leavitt said
in making the announcement yesterday.
Simply put, this collaboration will put the
results of our research investments into the hands of older people so
they can use it to improve the quality of their lives.
The Atlantic Philanthropies are pleased to
partner with HHS, NCOA and others in this important project that
highlights our goal of empowering older people to play a greater role in
their own health. We believe this important work will enable our older
citizens to live better lives and will reduce health care costs, said
John R. Healy, chief executive officer of The Atlantic Philanthropies.
In praising the announcement, Assistant Secretary
for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell said, Aging services providers are in a
unique position to recognize and ensure that effective prevention
programs are available to older people, including under-served
populations who often need the programs the most.
She added, This exciting new initiative will once
again mobilize AoAs national aging services network, in collaboration
with public health partners and other health care providers, to work
with seniors in their own communities to help them adopt lifestyle and
behavioral changes that can improve the quality of their lives.
This collaboration will give special emphasis to
implementing the Chronic Disease Self- Management Program developed by
Stanford University and funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality. It also expands on an existing grant program launched by AoA in
2003 in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the National Institute on Aging, the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, NCOA and
several private foundations including the John A. Hartford Foundation
and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to begin the deployment of
evidence-based prevention programs for older people in over a dozen
communities.
The HHS/Atlantic Philanthropies collaboration
advances President Bushs HealthierUS Initiative and Secretary Leavitts
Prevention priority. It also supports and complements the departments
ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of preventive care and
chronic disease management through Medicare.
The Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to
bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and
vulnerable people. Atlantic focuses on critical social problems related
to aging, disadvantaged children and youth, population health and
reconciliation and human rights. Programs funded by Atlantic operate in
Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South
Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, please visit
www.atlanticphilanthropies.org.
For more information and a program announcement
about the Empowering Older People to Take More Control of their Health
through Evidence-Based Prevention Programs: A Public/Private
Collaborative, visit
http://www.aoa.gov/doingbus/fundopp/fundopp.asp or call
202-357-0136.
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