Thursday, October 26, 11:00
a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Moderator
Edwin L. Walker, J.D.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, U.S. Administration
on Aging
Presentations
THE MINNESOTA COLLABORATIVE PLANNING MODEL: A CROSS-SYSTEM APPROACH TO
EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION
Kari Benson, M.P.A.
Minnesota Board on Aging, St. Paul, MN
In September 2005, the Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) received a 3-year grant from the
U.S. Administration on Aging to develop a coordinated, statewide evidence-based initiative
to prevent falls in older adults. Minnesota's decision to focus on falls' prevention is
based on the fact that, although the state ranks well compared to other states on a variety
of health outcomes, it has one of the highest rates of falls in older adults compared to
all other states.
The goal of the Minnesota Collaborative Planning Model: A Cross-System Approach to
Evidence-Based Health Promotion is to develop a collaborative planning model that
(1) integrates Federal, state, and local priorities; (2) links strategic
partners, each of whom contributes an essential component to the new strategy; and
(3) results in new and effective system change.
The vision for this initiative is that "older Minnesotans will have fewer falls and
fall-related injuries and maximize their independence and quality of life." The two
major objectives of the initiative are:
- All older adults will have knowledge of, and access to, evidence-based programs
and services that preserve or improve their physical mobility and strength and lower
their risk of falls.
- Healthcare and other service providers will be more aware of, and actively promote,
strategies and community resources/programs designed to improve older adult physical
mobility and strength and lower their risk of falls.
To achieve these goals, the MBA is working closely with the Minnesota Department of
Health, Stratis (the regional healthcare quality improvement organization), the Minnesota
Council of Health Plans, the Minnesota Chapter of the Physical Therapy Association, and
regional area agencies on aging. Initial successes include increasing the availability of
physical activity programs around the state and increasing the number of physician and
other referrals to falls' risk assessment.
ACTIVE START PROGRAM
Rosa Aguirre, M.S.G., M.H.A.
Los Angeles City Department of Aging, The OASIS Institute, Los Angeles,
CA
The OASIS Active Start program consists of two evidence-based classes taught by
lay leaders to increase physical activity among older adults.
- Active Living Every Day (ALED)—ALED is a behavior change program
developed by the The Cooper Institute. It takes a personal approach to incorporating
physical activity into one's lifestyle through the leadership of a trained
facilitator. During
ALED sessions, participants meet for 1 hour a week in a support-group style class.
Participants are facilitated in learning about lifestyle physical activity, how to set goals,
identifying barriers to physical activity, and establishing a social support system. Participants
identify ways to fit physical activity into their daily routine, recognize the benefits of a
more active lifestyle, identify barriers and develop solutions, and set realistic goals to
achieve more activity. Participants receive a workbook, step counter, and incentives to
support their behavior changes. By the end of the 20 weeks, participants have learned the
skills needed to incorporate and maintain activity in their lives even when difficult life situations arise.
- ExerStart for Lay Leaders—This beginning-level exercise program,
developed by Dr. Jessie Jones, co-director of the Center for Successful Aging at
California State University Fullerton, provides
ALED participants with an immediate way to begin incorporating physical
activity into their lives. ExerStart meets twice a week for 45 minutes each session
and uses low-intensity exercises designed to be led by older adult peers to improve endurance,
flexibility, and muscle strength. Participant outcomes are measured using Senior Fitness Test measures.
LIVE HEALTHY GEORGIA—SENIORS TAKING CHARGE! COMMUNITY INTERVENTION STUDY
Sudha B. Reddy, M.S., R.D., L.D.1;
Mary Ann Johnson, Ph.D.2,3; Heather Stephens2,3; Tiffany Sellers2;
Elizabeth Speer2; Joan Fischer, Ph.D.2
11Division of Aging Services, Atlanta, GA;
2Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA;
3University of Georgia, Athens, GA
The goal of this project is to reduce chronic disease in older adults by promoting five
messages outlined in the Governor's
"Live Healthy Georgia" campaign. The campaign messages are eat healthy, stay
active, get checked, stay smoke free, and be positive. The setting is senior centers
across Georgia that serve older adults with the greatest social and economic need. Federal
and state funds were used to fund the campaign.
Campaign activities include promoting campaign messages; creating a statewide public
relations media campaign to promote nutrition, physical activity, and wellness health
screenings; and conducting a community intervention to increase fruit and vegetable
consumption, promote physical activity, and improve self-management of diabetes. Partners
include the Division of Aging Services, University of Georgia, Georgia aging network,
Diabetes Association of Atlanta, Division of Public Health, and health departments.
The study is a pre-test, intervention, post-test design with 820 older adults (240
people with diabetes) enrolled in the program. Pre- and post-test measures include A1c
(a measure of diabetes control), knowledge and behaviors related to fruit and vegetable
consumption, and physical activity. The intervention consists of educational programs
related to fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and diabetes self-management.
Through this campaign, more than 10,000 seniors received information related to fruits,
vegetables, physical activity, diabetes self-management, and other wellness topics. The
pre-test results indicate that interventions are needed to address the high prevalence of
diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and barriers to healthy eating and physical activity.
The presentation will highlight the outcomes from the community intervention study and
provide strategies to create and sustain partnerships across Federal, state, and local
agencies to promote health and wellness.
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES: REDEFINING
THE APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Jennifer L. Solomon, M.A.1; Lisa Patton, Ph.D.2
1Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration; Older Americans Technical Assistance Center, Rockville,
MD
2SAMHSA Older Americans Technical Assistance Center, Rockville, MD
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of
Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP), formerly the National Registry of Effective
Programs, is designed to support identification and timely dissemination of interventions
that prevent and/or treat mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Estimates suggest that adults, age 50 or older, with substance abuse disorders will double
during the next two decades. At the same time, people over age 65 with mental health
disorders will increase from 7 million in the year 2000 to 15 million by 2030. The SAMHSA
Older Americans Substance Abuse and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (TAC) has
partnered with NREPP to identify programs focused on older adults and to facilitate the
application process for inclusion in the registry. Over the past year, the SAMHSA
Science-to-Service Workgroup has critically evaluated and revamped NREPP. The new NREPP
system allows users to access descriptive information about interventions that are
peer-reviewed and rated according to several outcome-specific ratings.
The streamlined review process involves doctoral-level reviewers and is based on
strength of evidence and readiness of dissemination. This new system offers a plethora
of information on each program/practice, all of which is available via a Web-based decision
tool. The decision tool is designed to provide a wide array of information that is pertinent
to different groups of individuals such as policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and consumers.
This session will present the new NREPP application and review process, and presenters
will share how TAC partners with potential programs and NREPP to provide technical
assistance throughout the application process. Presenters will engage participants in
discussion of evaluation in older adult mental health promotion and substance abuse
prevention programs and provide information regarding older adult programs under review.
For questions or more information, please contact
summit@hhs.gov.
