Partnership Building and Implementation of an Integrated Healthy-Aging Program.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Community Health Interventions

Background:

• Evidence-based interventions are available for preventing chronic diseases in older adults.
• Community organizations can facilitate the dissemination of these health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the partnership between the Arthritis Foundation (AF) and the University of Pittsburgh.
• To describe the implementation of a joint health program.

Main Methods:

• The AF Exercise Program (AFEP), an evidence-based intervention, was enhanced with the "10 Keys"™ to Healthy Aging program.
• The combined program focused on preventing chronic disease risk factors and utilized behavior change strategies.
• Community health workers delivered the program in 20 sessions over 10 weeks within a cluster-randomized trial.

Main Results:

• The partnership successfully delivered programming across 54 community sites in and around Pittsburgh.
• Collaboration leveraged existing organizational infrastructure for effective program reach.

Conclusions:

• Partnering with established community organizations enhances the delivery of health programs.
• This collaboration demonstrated a synergistic approach, combining research expertise with program delivery capabilities.