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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2006

State to Develop Community Prevention Programs for Older Ohioans
Ohio Receives $850,000 from Feds for New Initiatives

COLUMBUS - The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) today announced the release of $850,000 to Ohio to support the development over the next three years of programs that improve the health and quality of life for older Ohioans. The money is part of a collaboration with The Atlantic Philanthropies to support President Bush's HealthierUS initiative to encourage people to take control of their health in order to live longer, healthier lives.

"Research tells us that healthy living is key to preventing chronic disease" AoA Assistant Secretary Josephina Carbonell said at an event today at the Alliance Senior Center to announce the grant. "Through this effort, we hope to reach vulnerable seniors throughout Ohio who will benefit from evidence-based prevention programs that will enable them to live independently at home in their communities."

Ohio is one of 16 states to share more than $13 million from the AoA's "Empowering Older People to Take More Control of Their Health through Evidence Based Prevention Programs." AoA chose Ohio for the announcement because of the important implications healthy aging will have for the state.

"The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) has been working with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and community-based health care and aging services organizations to improve the health of older Ohioans for years," said Merle Grace Kearns, Director of ODA. "These funds will help us identify effective interventions that can be replicated statewide."

Community coalitions will work with ODA and ODH to implement these initiatives around the state. Aging services agencies, senior centers, nutrition programs, senior housing projects and faith-based organizations will develop new programs that will reach nearly 2,000 older Ohioans and address chronic disease self-care, physical activity and falls prevention.

Chronic disease and conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, as well as disabilities resulting from injuries such as falls, account for seven out of every 10 deaths and more than three quarters of all health expenditures in the United States. Research shows that older people are disproportionately affected by chronic disease, mostly because they do not maintain their health and physical activity as they age.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging serves and represents two million Ohioans age 60 and older. The Department advocates for the needs of all older citizens, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for older Ohioans, helping them live active, healthy and independent lives, and promoting positive attitudes toward aging and older people. The Department provides services to older Ohioans through 12 area agencies on aging, home and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman and the Golden Buckeye Card. For more information, visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.