Community-Based Programs To Improve Senior Health | AHRQ Innovations Exchange

Community-Based Programs To Improve Senior Health | AHRQ Innovations Exchange





Community-Based Programs To Improve Senior Health

According to a 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds of older Americans have multiple chronic conditions, and 66% of the Nation’s health care budget is spent treating this population. Community-based initiatives can improve the health of at-risk seniors and reduce costs by providing services such as screening and care coordination.

The featured Innovations describe three community-based programs designed to improve senior health. The projects include a collaborative that helped community-dwelling seniors access services so they could remain at home; a health and hygiene program that incorporated diabetes and hypertension screenings for at-risk seniors; and an initiative that enhanced access to culturally tailored mental health services for elderly minorities.

The featured QualityTools include a library of resources to help community-based organizations (CBOs) develop and implement evidence-based programs to promote healthy living for older adults; a tool to help senior-serving CBOs identify community resources to support seniors; and a toolkit to give State and local coalitions strategies, tools, and resources to prevent falls among older adults.

Featured Innovations:

•  Adding Diabetes and Hypertension Screening to Oral Health and Hygiene Program Identifies Many Seniors With or at Risk for These Chronic Illnesses

•  Community Health Workers Known as Promotores Enhance Access to Culturally Tailored Services for Elderly, Low-Income Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Leading to Improvements in Mental Health

•  Multiagency Collaborative Helps Community-Dwelling Seniors Access Coordinated Support Services, Helping Them Remain in Their Homes 
with Story

Featured QualityTools:

• Center for Healthy Aging: Resource Library
Developed by National Council on Aging

• Community Resource Inventory Tool
Developed by United Hospital Fund

• State Policy Toolkit for Advancing Fall Prevention
Developed by National Council on Aging