The Alliance for Aging, Inc. and the Area Agency for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties have been selected as one of eight communities nation-wide to participate in the Department of Human and Heath Services (HHS) pilot initiative to improve the health and quality of life of Hispanic elders. The pilot project, “Improving Hispanic Elders’ Health: Community Partnerships for Evidence-Based Solutions,” was launched earlier this year by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. Florida’s participation was announced on August 23, 2007 by HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Director Carolyn Clancy.
This collaboration is designed to encourage Hispanic elders and their families to take advantage of new Medicare benefits, including prescription drug coverage, flu shots, diabetes screening self-management, cardiovascular screening, cancer screening services and smoking cessation programs, as well as low-cost evidence-based prevention programs.
The Alliance for Aging staff has been working diligently to mobilize community partners and engage local experts to prepare for their participation in this initiative. The Miami metropolitan area will focus on Diabetes research. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. An estimated 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third of the 7 percent of the affected U.S. population) are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes is a serious health epidemic affecting the elderly population as it often leads to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women.
“This HHS initiative to improve the health and quality of life of Hispanic elders will provide a fruitful opportunity to be an effective advocate for health, providing access to the best available evidence and information, and creating a platform for on-going health dialogue,” said Marisel Losa, M.H.A, President and CEO for the Health Council of South Florida. “I look forward to participating on a team which aims to accomplish a new and exciting community-based health initiative,” Losa added.
This pilot project consists of two phases. During phase one, a team of delegates from Miami attended a workshop in Houston, Texas October 23-25, 2007. The workshop provided a forum for reviewing the latest research and relevant strategies and practices that communities can use to reduce the incidence of health disparities in their Hispanic elder populations.
The second phase will facilitate the sharing of ideas and information among the seven teams chosen to participate through a national “learning network” for approximately one year via conference calls, Webcasts, a discussion forum, and one-on-one sessions. The learning network will also include limited technical assistance for team members. Within the first few months of their participation in the network, each local team will be asked to articulate its plan for addressing one or more health disparities in their community.
“I would like to commend the Alliance for Aging, Inc. for spearheading this important initiative to improve the health of Hispanic elders,” said Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Miami-Dade County. “I offer my full support and pledge to make this a priority through my Initiative on Aging,” Alvarez added.
Community leaders, organizations and non-profits participating include: Dade County Medical Association, American Diabetes Association, Easter Seals Miami-Dade, Little Havana Activities & Nutrition Centers, Office of Mayor Carlos Alvarez, International Consultants of Aging and Health, Inc., Health Council of South Florida, Inc., American Heart Association, United Way of Miami-Dade, Southwest Social Services, Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency, Miami-Dade County Health Department, South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association, VITAS, City of Coral Gables, Robert Stempel School of Public Health at Florida International University, PhRMA, Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons, Health Foundation of South Florida, Citrus Health Network, St. John Bosco Clinic, and LifeMasters.
“I am extremely pleased to be participating in this nation-wide initiative as a community to address health disparities among Hispanic elders,” stated Max B. Rothman, J.D.,LL.M, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging, Area Agency on Aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. “This is a tremendous opportunity to learn about the latest research and promising programs,” Rothman emphasized, “that may be used to improve the health of all elder residents.”
The other metropolitan areas selected include Chicago, Ill., Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif., McAllen, Texas; New York, NY; San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, Calif.
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