1 / 19

The Livability of Rural Places for Aging Adults

Aging in Rural Colorado A Naturally Occurring Retirement Region (NORR). The Livability of Rural Places for Aging Adults. A Program of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association. Not “One Size Fits All” but When is ‘small’ TOO small? or When is “far” TOO far?”. Whom Do We Serve?.

vian
Download Presentation

The Livability of Rural Places for Aging Adults

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Aging in Rural Colorado A Naturally Occurring Retirement Region (NORR) The Livability of Rural Places for Aging Adults

  2. A Program of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association

  3. Not “One Size Fits All”butWhen is ‘small’ TOO small? orWhen is “far” TOO far?”

  4. Whom Do We Serve? • Routt County • 2,368 square miles • Population of 22, 328 in 2007 • 9.4 people per square mile • 12% above age 55 • Moffat County • 4,836 square miles • Population of 13,750 in 2005 • 2.8 people per square mile • 18% above age 55 Routt & Moffat Counties are about the size of the State of Connecticut

  5. What is the Challenge? Environment is Harsh Distances are Long • Population is Sparse • There are More Elk than People!

  6. Why was Aging Well created? To respond to a growing aging population To improve health and social connection for our elders To give elders options to stay at home in our rural communities To address the challenge of growing old in a rural place “It’s difficult enough for individuals to do all the right things to age well - communities cannot afford to let the future suddenly appear.”- - CO Dept. of Human Services, Division of Aging & Adult Services

  7. What do we do? Provide public health services, classes, activities and social spaces in each of our rural communities Enable older adults of northwest Colorado to remain at home in their communities for as long as they wish to stay Connect older adults to each other and to their communities Improve the health and social function of our rural-dwelling elders Encourage our communities to be active participants in improving the quality of our elders’ lives

  8. Services, Classes and Activities Blood Pressure Checks Blood Glucose Reading Flu & Pneumonia Shots Medication Review Nutrition / Weight Assessment Wellness Checks & Screenings Foot Care Evidence-Based Fitness & Nutritional Classes

  9. Community Connection At Assisted Living In the Schools At the Community College

  10. Health improvement and social function Healthier Living workshop to manage chronic conditions, Oak Creek, CO Art Class at Wellness Wednesday, Craig, CO

  11. Community Investment in our elders Nina is 84… at Wellness Wednesday, Craig, CO Bob, Age 100, walks every day in Hayden, CO Some of our Aging Well instructors…

  12. What do we hope to accomplish? For the elders in our communities: Improve health outcomes Keep our elders at home in our rural mountain communities Enable elders to remain healthy, safe and independent for as long as possible For our communities: Increase local investment in the health and well-being of our elders Raise awareness of the need to plan for our communities’ futures Foster policy discussion to promote wellness & prevention A healthy aging community is a healthy community for all.

  13. How do we do it? • Work within our Agency • Northwest Colorado Community Health Center (FQHC) • Public health • Community Health and Outreach • Work with our Communities • Wellness Day programs and collaboration • Physician Referrals • Social Marketing and branding of Aging Well • Business Support and Participation • Work with our Policy Makers • Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment • Colorado Health Care Policy and Finance • Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative • Consortium for Older Adult Wellness

  14. Aging Well is a Collaborative Effort • Funded by local, state and national foundations • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships • The Daniels Fund • Colorado Trust • The Colorado Health Foundation • U.S. Administration on Aging • Yampa Valley Community Foundation • Colorado Grand Charitable Vintage Auto Rally Aging Well does not receive legislative support for programs

  15. Collaboration at the State and Local Level • Community Partnerships are the Backbone of our Success • Area Agencies on Aging and their regional directors • Community Colleges – CMC and CNCC and CSU Extension • Local newspapers - Steamboat Pilot and Today, Craig Daily Press • Local Businesses – Wal Mart, Sports Authority, Sysco Foods • Consortium for Older Adult Wellness • Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative • Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment • The Arthritis Foundation

  16. Dace Carver Kramer, Director of Wellness and Aging Services Program Director, Aging Well A program of Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Inc. dkramer@nwcovna.org

  17. Some Questions to Ponder… • How do we define “community” – Not “When is old age,” but “Where is old age”? • What are we trying to accomplish? • Is the mission of these models the same? • How do we know if we are making a difference?

  18. Questions… • Are the traditional linkages (AAAs, State Health Departments, etc.) working? • Who is the system established to serve?

  19. Questions… How do we recognize a genuine shift in… Individual Health & Community Connection? Community Culture? Social Norms Surrounding Aging Structural elements of support for aging?

More Related