Helping older people live healthier lives through evidence-based prevention programs.

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Biggest concerns for people as they get older:

• Health • Finances• Relationships

Why?

Maintaining good health, financial security, and strong relationships are key to staying independent.

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The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (WIHA) helps older people stay well through evidence-based

programs.

• WIHA is a partnership of public and private organizations that promotes evidence-based programs to prevent disease and promote healthy living among older adults.

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Why Evidence-Based Programs?

• Evidence-based programs have been researched, tested, and scientifically-proven to work.

• All of the programs WIHA offers are shown to help older people prevent the onset or progression of a disease, chronic condition, or other health problem.

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What we do

• Develop, promote, and monitor the quality of products, programs, and services to support healthy aging

• Serve as a clearinghouse for evidence-based prevention program education and training

• Facilitate relationships between researchers and the community to promote aging research

• Monitor legislation and funding opportunities and advocate for good public policy initiatives that promote healthy aging

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WIHA’s Evidence-Based Prevention Programs

• Living Well: A self-management workshop for people with one or more chronic (on-going) health problems

• Stepping On: A falls prevention self-management workshop for people at risk of falls

• Sure Step: A one-on-one falls prevention assessment in the home for people with cognitive impairments who are at risk of falling

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Why Chronic Conditions?

• More than 1.7 million Americans die of a chronic disease each year

• 80% of older people have at least one; 50% have two or more

• 95% of health care spending is due to chronic conditions

• Two-thirds of all deaths are caused by four conditions: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes

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Why Falls Prevention?

• One in three adults age 65 and older falls each year; 20% - 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that make it hard for them to get around or live independently

• Falls among older adults were projected to cost the health care system nationwide over $28 billion in 2010

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Aging Research

• CAARN: Community-Academic Aging Research Network creates a bridge between university and community groups to do research in healthy aging

• CAARN provides training programs, networking opportunities, and resources to facilitate aging research

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Since October 2011

Non-Profit Organizational itemsSeated Permanent Board Launched websiteRevised protocols for SO and LWHeld Stepping On New Manual TrainingsHeld Leader Trainings galoreStrengthened Fidelity Coaching

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More since Oct 2011

Assigned Leader CoachesHeld focus groups Simplified data collectionDeveloping relational databaseSpruced up promotional materialsCompleted an SO Implementation GuideExpanded SO to 14 statesBegun Quarterly Leader Newsletter

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Still more since October 2011…

Consolidated work groups into one statewide EBPP Coordinating Committee

Begun new research projects, including AARCExpanded Tomando de Control de Su Salud.Translating SO – to Spanish.Hired two AHEC student interns

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WORKSHOPS!

• 2010: 102 SO, 105 LW, 9 Tomando• 2011: 101 SO, 107 LW, 18 Tomando• To date in 2012:

65 SO, 63 LW, 7 Tomando• Total Workshops - Since beginning:

325 SO, 435 LW, 32 Tomando = almost 800• Total participants – Since beginning:

3,814 SO, 4,288 LW, 361 Tomando = ˃ 8,000

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LEADERS!

• Living Well: 311 Leaders• Tomando: 43 Leaders• Stepping On: 213 Leaders

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What’s Next?

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• Imagine that It’s 2017

• So Much has Changed!

• Wisconsin Will Still be the Leader in Aging Programs & Services.

• Prevention Will Be Where It’s At!

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Healthy Aging by 2017

• Every county has Prevention Coordinator• ADRCs are Prevention Hubs• Prevention in aging akin to dental, annual physicals,

Lamaze. Aging readiness. • Every county has SO, LW, suite of CDSMP programs• Ended the waiting lists for them• County I&A specialists have extensive databases of

EBPPs in myriad areas.

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Research as of 2017

• All research begun in 2011 is through RCT – and is now implemented statewide

• CAARN can barely keep up with requests for community research partnerships

• New disciplines – health sciences nutrition, pharmacy, social work, law, engineering, etc.

• Goal of Wisconsin’s researchers is to partner with WIHA’s CAARN.

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Thanks to Wisconsin’s Prevention Networkby 2017 Health: UP & Costs: DOWN

↓ Complications from chronic conditions↓ Falls↓ Rx use and Adverse drug effects↓ Obesity↓ Mental Health Problems↓ Dementia↓ Driving accidents

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More Results

↓ Need for LTC↓ Health and LTC Costs – Fewer hospitalizations – Fewer ED visits– Fewer doctor visits– Decrease in use of medications↑ Community Engagement↑ Savings – all invested back in prevention

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• Adults age 65+ sign up for prevention programs with Social Security and Medicare

• Docs recommending; using Electronic Health Records

• Loving their EBPP apps, and• Electronic reminders• Prevention Budget ˃ LTC Budget• Health care providers offer WIHA programs and

crave earning the logo • EBPPs are covered benefits under Medicare,

Medicaid, Medigap and private insurance.

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THANK YOUWisconsin Prevention Network!

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To contact WIHA:Call:

(608) 243-5690E-mail: info@wihealthyaging.orgWebsite:

www.wihealthyaging.org

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Presented by:Betsy AbramsonDeputy Director