Highlighted Topics

• State Plan on Aging 2009-2013
• Governor’s Budget—California Department of Aging (CDA)
• Be Prepared California
• Get Healthy California
• Health Care Reform
• Long-Term Care Guide
• Security Awareness Training
• Senate Recognizes Department of Aging for Health Promotion in Workplace

Latest News

• Swine Flu
• Economic Stimulus One-Time Payments American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
• 2008 Economic Stimulus Rebate Information
  • Scams - An IRS Warning
• Tips to Prevent Heat Related Illness
• Medicare Fraud Toolkit to Assist Consumers in Protecting Their Medicare Benefits from Fraud and Abuse
• Information for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

Upcoming Events

Title III D Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program

Chronic diseases and conditions affect most older people at some point in their lives. Four out of five older adults have a chronic condition and many experience limitations in activities due to such conditions. Eighty percent of the "illness burden" in the United States is the result of chronic illness occurring between the age of 55 and death.

The purpose of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program is to improve the quality of life for older adults and prevent premature institutionalization by maintaining and/or improving health status, reducing risk factors associated with illness, disability or disease, delaying the onset of disease, preserving functional abilities, managing chronic diseases, managing over the counter and prescription medications and vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements.

The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program is a federally funded program under Title IIID of the Older Americans Act. Federal and state funds are distributed to local Area Agencies on Aging who use the funds to provide a wide variety of services and information at multipurpose senior centers, at congregate meal sites, through home delivered meal programs, and at other appropriate sites.

Examples of services and information provided throughout the state include:

• Comprehensive health risk assessments
• Routine health screening
• Nutrition counseling and educational services, for individuals and their primary caregivers
• Health promotion programs, including but not limited to programs relating to prevention and reduction of the effects of chronic disabling conditions, alcohol and substance abuse, weight loss, smoking cessations, and stress reduction.
• Home security and injury control services, including screening of high-risk home environments and the provision of educational programs on injury prevention (including fall and fracture prevention) in the home environment.
• Screening for the prevention of depression, coordination of community mental health services, provision of educational activities, and referral to psychiatric and psychological services
• Information and educational programs on the availability, benefits, and appropriate use of preventive health services
• Medication management screening and education to prevent incorrect medication and adverse drug reactions
• Information concerning the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation concerning age-related diseases and chronic disabling conditions, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction
• Gerontological counseling, family support, community education, advocacy, and outreach
• Counseling regarding social services and follow-up health services
• Purchase of physical fitness equipment, physical fitness classes

The following disease prevention and health promotion services are designated priority services by the state:

1. Routine health screening with counseling and referral as a component
2. Nutrition risk assessment counseling and follow-up
3. Health promotion programs
4. Physical fitness programs
5. Home injury prevention and control services
6. Medication management programs

The target population for this program are individuals who are aged 60 years and over; who are aged 60 years and over who live in an area of greatest economic need; who are aged 60 years and over living in a medically underserved area of the region; who are aged 60 and over with chronic medical conditions that can improve with education and non-medical intervention.

Contact your local Area Agencies on Aging to determine what services are available in your community.

For Info Contact:

Barbara Estrada
Phone: (916) 928-3330
e-mail: bestrada@aging.ca.gov

---

Medication Management Program

Medication Management is screening and education to prevent incorrect medication and adverse drug reactions. Evidence-based prevention programs are interventions that are based on evidence that is generated by scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals. One source of such evidence includes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sponsored research. As a result of several studies, there is now evidence documenting the effectiveness of risk factor interventions related to medication management.

There is evidence that community based programs to limit medication errors for elders yield positive results. Inappropriate medication usage by community dwelling elderly persons has been documented between 12% and 40%. Errors in medications are ranked as the fourth leading cause of death for people over the age of 65.

The Medication Management Program is a federally funded program under Title IIID of the Older Americans Act. Funds are distributed to local Area Agencies on Aging who use the funds to provide a wide variety of services and information at multipurpose senior centers, at congregate meal sites, through home delivered meal programs and at other appropriate sites.

The purpose of the Medication Management Program is to improve the quality of life for older adults and prevent premature institutionalization by working with them to manage their use of over the counter and prescription medications, vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements.

The following are examples of activities that are provided:

• Pharmacists or Pharmacy students give presentations on how seniors can manage their medications, drug-nutrient interactions, and supplements. The presentation may include a personalized medication review to identify expired medication, answer client questions, and counsel seniors to assure they understand, are following directions, and taking medications properly. The Pharmacists also encourage seniors to communicate with their doctors so they will be better informed of what medicines are being prescribed, why, and what results and/or side effects to expect.
• Partnerships with community based organizations to provide "Rx Check Up" clinics.
• Distribution of passport size books for seniors to keep records of health and medications. Seniors can take the books with them to share with their doctors and pharmacist.
• Distribution of brochures related to medication management.
• Distribution of pill minders in various languages to help seniors manage their prescriptions.
• Information provided at Senior Health Fairs, through an Info Van, and through the Information and Assistance Program.

The target population for this program are individuals who are aged 60 years and over; who are aged 60 years and over who live in an area of greatest economic need; who are aged 60 years and over living in a medically underserved area of the region; who are aged 60 and over with chronic medical conditions that can improve with education and non-medical intervention.

Contact your local Area Agencies on Aging to determine what services are available in your community.

Links:

• Medline Plus - http://medlineplus.gov/