Cheryl J. Ragonesi, CSW¹, Felicia Singletary, DMD², Susan Bowers-Johnson, MD², Jacqueline Martinez, MPH¹, Catherine Chan, MPA², and Allan Formicola, DDS¹. (1) Center for Community Health Partnerships, Columbia University, 100 Haven Avenue, Suite 27C, New York, NY 10032, 212-304-7030, cjr1@columbia.edu, (2) A facility of Columbia University Health Care, INC., The Thelma C. Davidson Adair Medical&Dental Center, 565 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10027

The Mannie L. Wilson Towers in Harlem provides subsidized apartments for underserved seniors, ensuring that tenants pay 30% or less of their income on rent The Thelma C. Davison Adair Medical and Dental Center on the first floor of this building opened in 2002, thus providing accessible treatment for seniors and other age groups in Harlem by offering a full range of medical and dental services, including nicotine replacement therapy as part of a smoking cessation initiative. A cognitive behavioral model incorporating social support was used to test the feasibility of providing group smoking cessation sessions for seniors at the Mannie L. Wilson Towers. Ten self-identified smokers volunteered to participate in weekly group sessions over 4 months. Attendance at each group session averaged 80%. To date, 2 smokers have quit, and the remaining group members report reductions in tobacco use. Group cessation sessions respond to the needs of and motivate interest in quitting smoking among African American seniors who smoke and live in subsidized housing facilities. Other senior residences in Harlem are being assessed for possible implementation of this smoking cessation model.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

1)Identify methods for outreach and recruitment of seniors for group smoking cessation services.
• Recognize the strengths of the cognitive behavioral model with social support for helping seniors to quit smoking.
• Discuss the feasibility of staging cessation by moving from harm reduction to health promotion among seniors.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: American Legacy Foundation,Grantor