Promoting Healthy Aging: What is Local Public Health's Role?
The Western NC Partnership for Public Health, of the NC Public Health Incubator Collaboratives, supported a single county pilot project in Jackson County in 2008-09 to inform local public health's role in helping communities meet the health and wellness needs of their maturing citizens. This pilot project was charged with increasing knowledge of and access to health programs and services for older adults in an effort to maintain health, enhance quality of life, and promote independence. With local leadership from the Jackson County Health Director and support from several local and regional partners, the Western Partnership worked to identify a process, tools, programs and recommendations for reaching out to the growing older adult population of Western North Carolina.
Building on the projects and partnerships from their work during the WNCPPH pilot, the Jackson County Department of Public Health continued to implement healthy aging programming in their community. Hkg Public Health Projects, LLC provided project coordination and technical assistance in the planning and implementation of the Fall 2009 Jackson County Great Life Series and another community-based comprehensive fall risk screening.
2008-2009 Project Highlights:
- Initiation and facilitation of the Jackson County Health Improvement Coalition: a group of area partners from agencies working to promote health of older adults
- Staff training and implementation of evidence-based program to enhance self-management of chronic disease (Healthy Living) and reduce risk falls (Matter of Balance).
- Caring & Sharing community forum planned and implemented to share information on local resources with Cashiers community members.
- Delivery of two Healthy Aging 101 sessions for public health professionals and partners.
- Provided one scholarship for a public health staff member to participate in the WCU Gerontology Certificate Program.
- Planning and implementation of a comprehensive fall prevention screening, in partnership with the Jackson County Department of Public Health, Western Carolina University and WestCare.
- Participation in the statewide and local falls prevention coalitions.
- Support for train-the-trainer session: Get Some Balance in Your Life, a physical activity program to improve strength and balance for older adults.
- Pilot dissemination of a 7 session series to promote healthy aging: The Jackson County Great Life Series. See Summer 2009 brochure.
Client Feedback:
Heather is well organized, thorough, punctual, supportive, a great facilitator—detailed and methodical; Terrific project manager. We would have not been able to bring Loving Life for a Lifetime to Jackson County without the help of a very organized Project Manager who has served as a very competent catalyst. Heather always was prepared and able to lead and organize a group of agency people with a common interest."
- Paula Carden, Director, Jackson County Department of Public Health
I have worked closely with Heather for the past two years on a variety of innovative public health initiatives and found her work to be top flight. She is truly a self started and works best with only general supervision as a project moves. However, she always stays in close contact with those funding the project to insure consistent agreement on project deliverables. She stays on time and on budget and her copeted project is always concise, easy to understand, and publishable. It is with great pride that I take this opportunity to recommend Heather Gates for your consultation needs. She will always deliver."
- George Bond, Coordinator, Western NC Partnership for Public Health