CRANSTON – The Rhode Island Parent Information Network will expand its education services to offer chronic disease self-support and balance classes to 360 older adults thanks to an $87,497 grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation, RIPIN announced in July.
Laura Jones, RIPIN director of health initiatives, said the two classes will be taught by peer instructors, so people taking the classes will learn from people their own age, facing the same health challenges. Jones said there are about 77 trained older adult facilitators.
In Chronic Disease Self-Support, people with any chronic disease, which includes ailments ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to emphysema and arthritis, will learn about fall prevention, pain management and how to discuss issues with their doctors, Jones said. The strategies taught are taken from research done at Stanford University.
Often, an adult dealing with a chronic disease may be dealing with frustration and anger about their situation, promoting a “Why me?” attitude.
“So, we teach them how to deal with that,” Jones said.
In Matter of Balance, people learn strength and balance exercises to prevent falls.
“So, if they start to fall, they can prevent that,” she said.
Also, Jones said, they learn falling is not a normal part of the aging process, and steps can be taken to avoid becoming fall-prone.
The class draws heavily on the support of fellow students, Jones said. She said one older man, who had set himself a goal of being able to get the mail three times a week, returned to class one week to report he hadn’t been able to make progress on his mobility because his daughter was too frightened to allow him to try to make the trip.
The man’s classmates wrote and signed a letter to the daughter asking her to give him a chance to reach his goals, Jones said.
“The daughter got the letter and he started walking to that mailbox,” Jones said.
“Our investments focus on improving community livability and addressing inequities to help older adults live healthier, fulfilling lives,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president, corporate citizenship, for Tufts Health Plan. “Every community has different needs and opportunities. We want to honor communities where they [live] and catalyze health improvements for older adults and the entire community.”
The grant will also help pay for computer equipment and training for the instructors.
In addition to working with the newly formed “Own Your Health Coalition,” RIPIN has partnered with the R.I. Department of Health through the Community Health Network, the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center at the University of Rhode Island and Federal Hill House Association to pool grant resources to offer additional peer-taught classes to older adults, including a Tai Chi class.
“So, we’re all working together to build capacity,” Jones said.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN contributing writer.
