Health and Wellness

Good health is essential for maintaining the quality of life for older adults. That is why the Atlanta Regional Commission supports an array of health and wellness programs.

Health Promotion Programs

Medication Management Program – “VIAL OF LIFE” – Medicine Review by a Registered Pharmacist; Medication Management Classes and physician referrals. This project is provided in partnership with CVS Pharmacy, Christian Pharmacy and local public safety offices.

Pedometer Walking Program – “STEPS TO HEALTHY AGING”- Promotes walking. Each senior receives a pedometer that counts the number of steps taken each day. Partnership with AARP.

Cholesterol Management Program – “TAKING HEALTH TO HEART;OLDER ADULTS MANAGING CHOLESTEROL” – Pre and post Cholesterol testing, monthly educational classes, on-going exercise programs, monthly mailings of “Close to the Heart” educational materials and one on one counseling by health professionals. Partnership with Pfizer and Fulton County Office of Aging.

Physical Fitness Testing – “FULLERTON FITNESS TEST” program- Upper and Lower body strength testing. A pre and post test is administered. Women begin with 2lb. Weights and men begin with 5lb.weights. Program is ongoing in 6 neighborhood senior centers.

Nutrition Education – Monthly nutrition education mailings to all senior centers by AAA Registered Dietitians; monthly nutrition programs  at each senior center by Registered Dietitians and other “approved” Health Care Professionals. 

ProHealth For Seniors Task Force – Committees of Health Care Professionals who meet to build community partnerships, share information and organize community-based activities to identify and help meet the health needs of mid-life and older persons. The subcommittees are Aging & Mental Health Task Force, Georgia Striders, Mayor’s Walk, Atlanta Foot Care Coalition, And Multicultural Health Initiative. 

Vision Screening Program- Partnership with Prevent Blindness Georgia. The center for Disease Control and Prevention is providing funding to allow Prevent Blindness Georgia to collaborate with senior citizen service agencies, in the state, to provide on-site vision clinics offering Vision care for adults over 55 who qualify.(no access to vision insurance and can not afford to see a doctor). The participants receive vision screenings, complete eye exam by a doctor, select frames and receive a complete set of new glasses within 2-3 weeks.
Fact Sheet: Eye Care and Glasses for Georgia's Underprivileged Seniors (PDF)

West Nile Virus Initiative- A public education program provided in conjunction with CDC, local Health Departments, Fulton County Office of Aging and Consumer Specialty Products Association. Insect Repellent containing “DEET” was distributed to senior centers and local senior high rise.

Service 2 Seniors – A partnership between DHR, Georgia Cares, Area Agency on Aging, WSB-TV, Division of Aging Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration, community partners and sponsors. Informational fairs are held during the month of May to provide information to families about Medicare, social security, prescription assistance programs and Georgia Cares. Approximately 3,131 attended in the ARC region.

Pandemic Flu Committee – Aging Division Committee (with technical assistance to be provided by DHR-Office of Public Health) is working on an emergency communication plan to disseminate information to older adults in case of an emergency. Flyers and an emergency kit “check sheet” will be developed.

Live Healthy Georgia…Seniors Taking Charge is an annual event to promote the Governors Wellness Campaign which encourages Georgians to: Be Active, Get Checked, Be Smoke-Free, Eat Healthy and Be Positive.  The overall goal of this campaign is to develop, implement and evaluate community education interventions offered to older adults. The education interventions focus on increasing their knowledge regarding the importance of fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, heart health and improving self-management of diabetes. Various Older Adults will be selected to participate in the annual education interventions.
Fact Sheet: Live Healthy Georgia: A campaign to reduce chronic disease in Georgia (PDF)

Living Well Workshops - A Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) A 2 ½ hour class per week for 6 weeks for 10-15 older adults with one or more chronic diseases.  The class teaches techniques to deal with the symptoms of fatigue, pain, stress/anxiety, tense muscles, difficult emotions and shortness of breath. Action plans are used to find solutions to the medical, social, and emotional aspects of these symptoms. Stanford University trained 22 “Master Trainers” and 3 “Lay Leaders” who are certified to conduct “self management” workshops. In addition, “Master Trainers” will be able to train “Lay Leaders” to teach the program. (Each class is facilitated by a pair of leaders).

SPARC (Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration) – ARC, in collaboration with local partner agencies, will implement a community-based model to increase the use of preventative health services by older adults. This partnership with community health organizations and healthcare is to promote disease prevention by delivering numerous services in one setting. (BUNDLING of Services). CDC has partnered with ARC to assist in all aspects of implementation and data gathering. The 3 CBA’S participating in this pilot project is Fayette Senior Services, DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs and Fulton County Office of Aging.

For more information about any of the programs listed above, contact us at 404-463-3289.