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Federal Stimulus Funds Address Health Issues of Kentucky Seniors

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May 6th, 2010

Federal Stimulus Funds Address Health Issues of Kentucky Seniors

  

The agency that oversees programs for Kentucky’s aging population has received stimulus funds to improve the health of Kentucky seniors.

 

The Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has been awarded $600,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the United States Administration on Aging (AoA) to empower older people with chronic diseases to improve and maintain their health status.

 

The funding will allow staff at four Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living (AAAIL) to implement evidence-based chronic disease self-management programs that can help prevent or delay disability. Patients are taught how to better manage their symptoms, adhere to medication regimens and maintain functional ability.

 

“Empowering people to become active participants in managing their own health is an important step we can take to improve the overall health status for older Kentuckians,” said Governor Steve Beshear. “Our aging population is growing rapidly, and programs likes these allow us to broaden our reach in meeting our seniors’ health needs.”

 

“This funding will allow Kentucky to strengthen and significantly expand the existing capacity to deliver chronic disease self-management programs,” said CHFS Secretary Janie Miller. “Programs like this provide the tools that will allow many people in our aging population to maintain a higher quality of life.”

 

DAIL and the AAAILs will create a network of statewide trainers who will administer the program to at least 800 individuals. Participants are expected to report improvements in self-rated health, increased energy levels, decreased health distress, increased stretching and strengthening, endurance and fewer hospitalizations.

 

While people age 60 and older will be targeted to participate in the program, other individuals with chronic health conditions may participate. Special attention will be given to serving low-income, minority and limited English speaking older adults, including those who are Medicaid eligible. The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) will assist DAIL in identifying people who might qualify for the program, which accepts participants with any identified chronic disease.

 

“People who participate in this program will learn to be better advocates for their health, which is crucial to reducing the number of people in our state who have chronic diseases,” said DAIL Commissioner Deborah Anderson.

 

According to information from the DPH Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems, Kentucky adults report some of the highest prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease, in the nation.

 

Four AAAILs will receive funding to implement the grant program: KIPDA, Northern Kentucky, FIVCO and Bluegrass. Combined, KIPDA, Northern Kentucky and Bluegrass serve the largest portion of people 60 and older in the state.

 

 

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