Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: April 2004

BLUEPRINT PARTNERS PROGRESS
April 2004

In This Issue:

CDC Fact Sheet on Actual Causes of Death
Report on Promoting Physical Activity Through Health Care Settings
New American Heart Association Guidelines on Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke in Women
Link to DHHS Interactive Small Steps Website
Opportunity to Promote New Online Survey for Older Adults
Mini-Grant Update: Ho-Chunk Nation Division of Health
Events for April and May

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Poor diet and physical inactivity may soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death in the U.S.
JAMA Article

The Role of Midlife and Older Consumers in Promoting Physical Activity Through Health Care Settings
This report provides recommendations for consumers, health care providers, the aging systems network, the research community, and the media for promoting physical activity for older adults through the health care system.

New Guidelines on Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke in Women: American Heart Association

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services smallstep.gov website
This interactive website encourages Americans to make small activity and dietary changes.

Promote A Survey to Help Seniors Be More Active
The Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc. is seeking the opinions of men and women 60 years and older. This feedback will help guide the development of an on-line interactive program promoting physical activity among seniors.

Beginning in April, an on-line survey will be conducted, funded by the National Institute on Aging. The survey is for research purposes only. Participant names and information will NOT go on a mailing list or be passed on to other organizations. All information will be kept confidential. The survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. Eligible participants will be compensated $15.

Please help promote this opportunity to men and women, 60 years and older. The on-line survey will be available on April 5th at Seniors on the Move

If you have additional questions about this research, please contact Molly Billow at seniorsonthemove@orcasinc.com or call 1-800-934-0626.

Blueprint Mini-Grant Update: Ho-Chunk Nation Division of Health
In the fall of 2003, 25 community elder representatives, community health representatives and respite care providers participated in a two-day fitness training session to learn how to assist elders in their homes with simple range-of-motion exercises using Thera-Bands. The fitness leaders also provide community exercise classes each week in their communities of Black River Falls, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah, Nekoosa, LaCrosse, and Wittenberg. A total of 36 elders have participated in the Elder Fitness Classes in the six communities.

Elders who participate in a minimum number of classes or complete home activities can receive incentives, such as merchandise, game packets, and over-night stays provided by casinos, bingo halls, and the convention center.

Events for April and May:
2004 Joint Conference of ASA and NCOA
April 14-17, 2004; San Francisco, CA

2nd National Steps to a HealtherUS Summit
April 29-30, 2004; Baltimore, MD

2004 Annual Scientific Meeting of American Geriatrics Society
May 17-21, 2004; Las Vegas, NV

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

For more information about the events, visit www.agingblueprint.org

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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