The Massachusetts Healthy Living Center of Excellence (HLCE) launched a redesigned website in January at www.healthyliving4me.org. The new website makes it easier for older adults to learn about evidence-based healthy aging programs offered in their community and to register for upcoming workshops.
Visit the Programs page to browse all programs offered through the HLCE in one place. This page includes a snapshot of upcoming workshops for each program, too. Visit the Workshop Schedule page for a full listing of upcoming workshops in your area. Click on an event to access the registration details.
“This new website will help older adults take a more active role in managing their health by connecting them with valuable, no cost healthy living programs in their back yards,” said Jennifer Raymond, Director of Evidence-Based Programs at Hebrew SeniorLife.
The HLCE aims to help older adults remain independent and in the community as long as possible through the use of proven evidence-based programs that promote behavior change and encourage older adults to become active partners in managing their own health. The HLCE is a collaboration between Hebrew SeniorLife and Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. The HLCE recently secured more than $1.3 million in funding over three years from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and the John A. Hartford Foundation. The grants will fund a centralized infrastructure and six new regional coalitions to expand disease management and wellness programs across the Commonwealth and improve the way community based groups, health care providers and consumers work together to improve care.
The HLCE will then work in collaboration with six regional coalitions across the Commonwealth, each of which will include representatives from health care systems and plans; governmental agencies; area agencies on aging, councils on aging and aging service network providers; local community health centers and health departments; business and industry; and faith-based organizations. Coalition members will work together to disseminate evidence-based programs to older adults in their regional communities, sharing in-kind resources to fill any holes in program availability and ensure program fidelity.
The HLCE has selected lead regional agencies to coordinate in each geographic market. These include Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley in Northeastern Mass.; Ethos in Boston; BayPath Elder Services in MetroWest Mass.; Elder Services of Worcester Area in Central Mass.; Franklin County Home Care Corporation in Western Mass., and Old Colony Elder Services in Southeastern Mass.
“The HLCE is in essence creating an integrated delivery system in which health care systems, community-based social services and older adults collaborate as partners to improve care and lower costs,” said Jim Roosevelt, president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and CEO of Tufts Health Plan. “With all eyes on health care reform, this new model has the potential to set the stage for national change in the way health care is delivered and embraced.”
Visit www.healthyliving4me.org to check out the new website.
Read the full press release about the funding announcement from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.