Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

AoA is actively sponsoring health promotion and disease prevention programs that have targeted older people of color for several years. Presently we fund five projects with the National Minority Aging Organizations that represent each of the four major population of color: African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Native American. These projects work in both urban and rural areas to provide health information at the community level in managing diabetes, preventing stroke and cardiovascular disease, preventing cancer, and promoting immunizations.

AoA is partnering with CDC to co-manage Project REACH for the Elderly (Racial, Ethnic Approaches to Community Health). Project REACH in itself is unique because two federal agencies have joined together to assist local communities to narrow the gap in health disparities. This multi-phased initiative is developing health promotion information that can be tailored and used by various populations and built upon for future efforts.

AoA has also developed partnerships to better serve American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. We partnered with the University of North Dakota’s National Resource Center on Native American Aging to design and implement a needs assessment of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Tribes have used this data for public awareness campaigns, grant applications, and service development activities.

AoA also partnered with the Indian Health Services and National Indian Council on Aging to conduct the American Indian and Alaska Native Roundtable on Long-Term Care on April 11 and 12, 2002. A final report was produced as a result of the roundtable that explores the key issues in long-term care for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. You can view the report at the following site: American Indian and Alaska Native Roundtable on Long-Term Care (Off Site - PDF)

Additionally, the University of Colorado’s Native Health Care Resource Center has expanded training and technical assistance workshops on health-related issues available in Indian country through the Tribal Colleges and Universities. Educational modules have been developed that address some of the most prevalent and disabling illnesses that afflict Indian elders.

Resource Links (All Links are Off site)

• Closing the Gap - HHS and ABC Radio Networks - A national campaign bringing the best health information to African Americans and other communities of color.
  
  
• Office of Minority Health - HHS - Information on minority health issues, funding opportunities, conferences, legislative action in Congress, publications, and more.
  
  
• National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities - NIH - Conducts research, supports training, and reaches out to minority and other health disparity communities.