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Abstract #158301

• Handout (free access)

Donna Bainbridge, EdD, PT, ATC, Tom Seekins, PhD, Rod Brod, PhD, Marie Middleton, MA, ABD, and Steve Bridges, BA. Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, (406) 243-5741, dbridge@ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Interest in health and wellness of people with disabilities has accelerated. From a public health perspective, estimated medical costs of disability are as high as $79.3 billion annually (Berkowitz & Green, 1989). A major contributor to costs is secondary conditions (Seekins et al., 1990). Health education and health promotion are methods to decrease consequences of secondary conditions, and reduce utilization and cost of medical services. Yet, few health promotion programs for this population have been tested.

The Wellness Club (WC) is a program that engages consumers with I/DD in managing their own health to prevent secondary conditions and maximize abilities. The WC was delivered in context of the residence with staff support. Consumers worked on one or more wellness objectives, and participated in structured club activities. Staff and consumers completed global screens of health risk, quality of life, and limitations from secondary conditions. Based on global results, staff and consumers developed wellness goals for their Individual Plan. Specific assessments, measuring pre-intervention status of target conditions, were used to develop behavioral objectives; staff assisted participants in engaging in these activities.

The WC was tested in community service organizations in Montana and Kansas with 15 and 10 consumers respectively (7 males, 18 females, 25 to 73 years). Results indicate that consumers met 42.8% of all weekly goals. Goal achievement varied according to target (fitness 39.7%, oral hygiene 43%, nutrition and personal care 95%) and organizational structure (39.7% in supported/group living, 69.4% in family homes). Factors that influenced goal attainment will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the several components of the WC.
• Discuss results of the WC in improving participant’s lives.
• Compare these results across target and organization.
• Discuss the factors that supported positive action toward wellness.
• Identify possible applications for service management.

Keywords: Health Promotion, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Handout (free access)