Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: March 2004

BLUEPRINT PARTNERS PROGRESS
March 2004

In this Issue:

Updates from Blueprint Partners
Grant Opportunity for Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs
New Research on Aging and Physical Activity
Mini-Grant Update: New York State Dept. of Health
Resources

Updates from Blueprint Partners

The Active Aging Toolkit: Promoting Physical Activity in Older Adults for Healthcare Providers has been developed in response to Medical System Barriers identified by the Blueprint Partners. The Toolkit was developed by researchers and clinicians involved in the Blueprint Project, and was supported by member organizations, the ACSM, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, American Geriatrics Society, American Physical Therapy Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and Thera-Band Products. The Toolkit has become an example of a non-traditional partnership between national organizations, universities and private industry to advance the strategies of the Blueprint.

In addition, the First Step to Active Health patient education program was developed to support the Toolkit as a turn-key, evidence based physical activity program for older adults that can easily be prescribed and implemented by healthcare providers. The website,www.FirstStepToActiveHealth.com provides patients and providers with information on increasing physical activity in older adults. Several research projects are underway around the country to evaluate the First Step program. In addition, a training program for professionals to implement the First Step program is underway through the Thera-Band Academy. Download the entire Active Aging Toolkit at www.FirstStepToActiveHealth.com. An executive summary is available at www.agingblueprint.org

AAALF Fitness Programs for Older Adults
www.agingblueprint.org

*NOTE TO BLUEPRINT PARTNERS: Do you have any new resources or information to share with other partners? Please e-mail information to Lisa Sheppard, National Blueprint Office, for distribution in future e-mail updates.

Grant Opportunity for Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs

The National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging at Florida International University with support from the US Administration on Aging announces the availability of funds to locally implement You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging, a nutrition and physical activity program for older adults.

Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs are eligible to participate in this multi-center study for this first year award cycle. Approximately $100,000 is available to fund 8 to 10 awards with a maximum of $10,000 each. Awards will be made for a project period of 9 months. Applications must be mailed to the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging with a postmark deadline of April 2, 2004. Applicants will be notified of award decisions by April 30, 2003.

Details regarding the application, content, requirements, submission process, and review are available at www.fiu.edu/~nutreldr . For further information, contact Nancy Wellman, <mailto:nancy.wellman@fiu.edu>Nancy.Wellman@fiu.edu or Dian Weddle,<mailto:dian.weddle@fiu.edu>Dian.Weddle@fiu.edu or the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging.

New Research on Aging and Physical Activity

Exercise and decision-making:
www.news.uiuc.edu/news/o4/0216exercise.html

Leisure Activities and the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Mini-Grant Update: Health Research, Inc./ New York State Dept. of Health
The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Western NY, the Erie County Physical Activity Coalition, and the New York State Dept. of Health—Health Research, Inc. presented a spring and fall Passport to Wellness: Walking for Health program. The program featured a series of six guided outdoor and indoor walks that explored the city of Buffalo’s Olmstead and Erie County parks.

At the Spring Kick-Off Walk, 426 walkers registered, with an average of 70 walkers per event. Participation for the fall walk series included 685 walkers, with an average of 114 walkers per session. Special guest speakers presented beneficial health information on topics including arthritis, Tai Chi, safe senior driving, exercising with Dyna Bands, walking for health, and 10,000 steps. Participants could choose between a half-mile walk or a one-mile walk. Walkers who attended at least four sessions received a sun visor or fanny pack.

Survey evaluation of the spring walk indicated that 83 percent of participants felt that the program helped to increase their physical activity levels. Ninety percent said they would continue walking after the program ended. A majority also said they would consider forming or joining a walking club in their community.

Resources

Motivating Moves video for people with Parkinson’s Disease

NCPAD report on fibromyalgia and exercise

The Blueprint Partners Project is an initiative of the Active Aging Partnership. For more information, contact the Blueprint Partnership Office at the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology.
Website: www.agingblueprint.org