Health Promotion
The Area Agency on Aging of Dane County Offers Evidence-Based Health Promotion Workshops
The Wisconsin Institute for Health Aging (WIHA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of older adults in Wisconsin. They do this by administering high-level evidence-based health promotion programs. The Area Agency on Aging is a partner of WIHA’s and helps to spread healthy aging programs on a local level. Our goal is to help older people in Dane County live longer, and live better through delivering these programs. Due to the success of these workshops, participants have seen reduced amounts of trips to the emergency department and hospitalizations, fewer falls, better caregiving, and measurable reductions in the progress of illnesses. We offer a variety of healthy aging programs that focus on assisting adults with on-going health problems like arthritis, diabetes, incontinence, frequent falling, and more. See below for all that we offer!
Current Program Offerings in Dane County:
Chronic Conditions
About Chronic Diseases Banner. Digital image. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm.
Living Well with Chronic Conditions is a six-week self-management workshop providing information and support to people with chronic health problems such as arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. An adaptation of the Living Well program - Healthy Living with Diabetes is designed specifically for people with type 2 diabetes. Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is a self-management program for people living with ongoing pain. Both Living Well with Chronic Conditions and Healthy Living with Diabetes are also offered in Spanish.
Falls Prevention
Stepping On is a seven-week workshop proven to reduce falls. It provides a safe, positive learning experience focused on improving balance and strength, home and environmental safety, vision, and a medication review.
Facts About Older Adult Falls. Boston Public Health Commission, https://www.bphc.org/whatwedo/childrens-health/injury-prevention/Pages/Older-Adult-Falls-Prevention.aspx.
Bladder and Bowel Incontinence
Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder is a program designed to give women the tools they need to take control of bladder and bowel leakage. Join a MOM workshop and learn strategies for preventing or lessening symptoms so you can keep doing the things that matter most to you.
Caregiver Support
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week workshop shown to improve self-care behaviors, manage feelings and emotions related to caregiving, increase confidence in coping with caregiving demands, and increase the use of local service.
Physical Activity
Walk With Ease is a six-week exercise program that has been shown to reduce arthritis pain; increase balance, strength and walking pace; and improve health. Physical Activity for Lifelong Success (PALS) is a 10-week physical activity behavior change program for beginner-level older adults. It provides strategies and tools to continue a new level of physical activity after the program is over.