254291 Creating a Win-Win Partnership Between Public Health and Aging: Bridging the Gap

Monday, October 29, 2012

Mari Brick, MA , Arthritis Council, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Voorheesville, NY
1. Significance of the problem. According to Census data, there are 56 million people aged 60+ in the United States. In unison with increasing age is an increase in the number of chronic conditions that afflict older Americans. Approximately 91% of older adults (60+) have at least one chronic disease, and 73% have at least two. Chronic diseases account for 75% of the money the U.S. spends on health care. 2. Innovativeness of approach. In 2010, the Administration on Aging awarded ARRA funding to 47 states and territories to promote the implementation of Stanford University's Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP). In June 2011 at the ARRA Grantee Meeting, six State Health Departments (SHD) and State Units on Aging (SUA) met in 2 separate panel presentations to discuss partnerships, roles and responsibilities in the above project. 3. Methodological rigor of approach. The responses of SHD and SUA were recorded during each 90-minute panel presentation. Each state participant was given a series of 4 questions and prepared to answer the questions from the SHD and SUA perspective. 4. Findings. In the six state examples, the SHD and SUA each described the qualities of the partnership that are seen as helpful and as hindering to the project outcomes. The states describe lessons learned. 5. Implications identified for future practice. Commonalities among the states were identified that will assist SHD and SUA as they take on joint program goals and strategize to increase and sustain the reach of evidence-based interventions for older adults.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Chronic disease management and prevention
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify at least 2 aspects each of the Aging and Public Health partnership that help and that hinder the process of working together to meet the desired goals. 2. Describe 1-2 lessons learned for developing an open, communicative environment with the Public Health partner. 3. List 3 commonalities of a good Aging and Public Health partnership

Keywords: Aging, Self-Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I developed the materials, interviewed the participants, and wrote the summary that make up the content of this abstract and presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.