Health Promotion
Health promotional services and activities that address chronic disease prevention and management, promote physical and mental health, improve or maintain quality of life, increase awareness and understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Washington County Office for Aging (OFA) shares health promotional education information through our monthly newsletter Community Connections, Facebook page, and our website. In addition, we support health promotional events being performed virtually by other agencies.
Our NY Connects program has partnered with the North Country Care Coordination Coalition to develop a referral system for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP). This Health Initiative was put together by the North Country Healthy Heart Network and is funded by the Administration for Community Livings "Integrated Networks to Deliver and Sustain Evidenced-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program" grant.
OFA partners with Washington County Public Health for the implementation of an evidence-based program called Tai Chi for Arthritis.
OFA offers a six-week training for caregivers, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, that provides a caregiver information on self-care.
Health Monitoring Devices
Washington County Office for Aging and Disabilities Resource Center (OFA/ADRC) received funding from New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) that targeted the COVID–19 pandemic. These funds allowed use to purchase a supply of thermometers, oximeters, and blood pressure monitors.
These items were determined by Public Health to be useful devices for people to monitor their health – either before experiencing COVID-19 as a preventive measure, after being exposed to COVID-19, or while they are experiencing COVID-19.
Therefore, we can provide these items, at no charge, to qualifying residents of Washington County. Contact ADRC at (518) 746-2420 to get further information.
North Country Health Heart Network
The goal of the referral program is for health care providers to identify individuals at risk of developing a chronic disease or diagnosed with a chronic disease, such as diabetes, and refer that individual to NY Connects. When a NY Connects Information Specialist receives the referral, they contact that individual and assist them with enrolling in a six-week virtual chronic disease support program.
GetHealthyNoCo.org is a one-stop shop for those looking to enroll in local workshops and wellness programs to help them prevent or better manage diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic diseases.
Get Healthy North Country is administered by the North Country Care Coordination Coalition, a network of health care providers, public health agencies, and nonprofits working to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and other chronic diseases across northern New York. This region-wide system aims to ensure that there are enough lifesaving programs offered so that anyone interested or referred will be able to access them. Visit our website to learn more and enroll today.
Tai Chi for Arthritis
OFA partners with the Washington County Public Health for the implementation of an evidence-based program called Tai Chi for Arthritis. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of slow, continuous, whole-body movements, strung together in a "form". Like dance, the movements are learned and followed one after another, in a particular order. Tai Chi has been shown to improve strength, flexibility, sense of wellbeing, and balance. It has also shown to decrease pain in joints, stress, high blood pressure, falls and fall risk.
This is a six-week program and is offered several times throughout the year. Posting of classes can be found on our Facebook page. A contribution of $5.00 per class is suggested to support the continuation of this program, but no one will be denied participation because of an inability or unwillingness to contribute.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week class, developed to provide family caregivers about self-care. Family caregivers will be given tools to reduce personal stress, change negative self-talk, communicate more effectively in challenging situations, manage their emotions, and make tough caregiving decisions. This training is a space where caregivers can talk about how they feel by sharing their stories and struggles and hear from others who are also feeling the stress of caregiving.
Posting of classes can be found on our Facebook page and website. A contribution of $5.00 per class is suggested to support the continuation of this program, but no one will be denied participation because of an inability or unwillingness to contribute.