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 HealthEASE was created in New Jersey to coordinate and expand health promotion and disease prevention services for older adults at the local level, with the goal of promoting, supporting and sustaining older adults in living healthier, more independent lives. HealthEASE targets older adults at all levels of the health spectrum, from those experiencing no health issues to those with multiple chronic diseases and physical limitations. HealthEASE includes program coordination, as well as physical activity, health education and coordinated screening components designed specifically for adults over the age of sixty.
Through a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the HealthEASE model was developed and piloted in two counties: Bergen and Ocean. Following a full year of program development, HealthEASE was implemented and evaluated in the pilot counties for two years. The evaluation demonstrated positive outcomes in the following areas:
- Expanded role of the Area Agency on Aging in health promotion
- Expanded service delivery
- Improved partnerships among provider agencies
- Enhanced information and referral for health promotion
- Health and social engagement benefits for program participants
- Participant commitment to make healthier lifestyle choices
Based on these positive program outcomes, regional training programs were held in 2006 and 2007 to expand the physical activity and health education components to additional counties. Refer to the HealthEASE Guidebook for information on how to establish these programs in your community.
HealthEASE Components:
Related Programs:
Additional Resources:
Move Today is a 30-45 minute non-aerobic exercise class designed to improve flexibility, balance and stamina. Participants assess their health, physical well-being and intent to make behavior changes before and upon completion of the program. The exercises and guidelines are based on current nationally recognized standards and science.
Exercises can be done while sitting or standing. Classes are led by trained peer leaders and meet weekly or bi-weekly for twelve sessions. Program features include:
- A brief education component focusing on an exercise-related topic.
- Inexpensive exercise bands to gain maximum effect from resistance exercises.
- A major focus on good posture and falls prevention.
- An exercise intensity scale and a weekly exercise log to track participant activity.
- A self-assessment process for participants to assess their health, physical well-being and intent for behavior change given both before and upon completion of the program.
Professionals with experience leading physical activity programs or health-related programs for older adults are certified as program trainers. Program trainers are provided with comprehensive leader and participant manuals, as well as a DVD for training reinforcement. Lead coordinators, located in 19 of New Jersey’s 21 counties, have the capacity to train new peer leaders to implement the program on an as-needed basis. As noted by one local public health department, Move Today provides a unique opportunity for agencies to engage with one of their key target populations - seniors.
 Funding at the local level is minimal - exercise bands cost around $1.00 each and the program requires two bands. Since the program is peer led, the only other actual cost is printing of participant manuals.
Impact: More than half of the participants reported improved overall health after just one 12-class session. Participants cited greater ease in completing posture exercises and significant increases in the number of repetitions of particular exercises. The program had long lasting impact, with most participants indicating they would continue to exercise after completion of Move Today.
- When one woman told her doctor she was going to teach an exercise class, he saw an out-of-shape, overweight senior who was a self-proclaimed couch potato. Today, two years later, she continues to lead the exercises. "I've lost 12 pounds and lowered my blood glucose levels. I used to fall frequently, but in the 2 years I’ve been leading the exercise class, I haven't fallen."
For more information: contact the Office of Community Education and Wellness, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, 609-633-8746.
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The education series includes important information on seven health promotion topics including nutrition, physical activity, heart disease, memory improvement, osteoporosis, fall prevention, and safe use of medications. The modules can be delivered as separate educational programs or as a series of workshops. The goal of each module is to provide education to promote patient empowerment leading to a healthier lifestyle. Each module includes specific actions that can be taken to improve health as related to the session topic. Each session is approximately one and a half hours in length.
The Health Education modules are "turn-key" in that each includes all of the materials needed to conduct the educational session. The manuals are provided in hard copy and on disk. The sessions are designed to be delivered by health or aging professionals with experience in health education. Individuals who complete a half-day orientation program can teach the HealthEASE Health Education program. Nearly 200 facilitators are available to provide the program in all 21 counties. The six modules are titled:
- Exercise and Getting Fit
- Serving Up Good Nutrition
- Bone Up On Your Health (osteoporosis and falls prevention)
- Be Wise About Your Medications (medication management/substance abuse)
- Keeping Up The Beat(self management techniques for cardiovascular disease)
- Maximizing Memory (maintaining memory/cognitive skills)
Impact: Participants in the health education program demonstrated greater knowledge of the session topic and an increased likelihood of taking positive action steps to improve their health in this area. These positive outcomes were evident for those seniors who attended individual sessions, as well as those who attended the complete education series.
For more information: call 609-633-8746.
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Activities include a variety of health screenings (including vision, hearing, blood pressure, cancer and podiatric), health education (including nutrition, physical activity and falls prevention), and testing (including blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, bone density) and immunizations. Protocols are established to refer individuals with abnormal screening results to health care providers.
 Through partnership with local health and aging service providers, community-based screening events increase utilization of health promotion and disease prevention services by bringing resources together in one place that is easily accessed by targeted older adult populations. Coordinated screenings encourage partnerships with hospitals, local health departments, health practitioners, private businesses and not-for-profit agencies, senior organizations, and AARP. Religious organizations and municipal agencies often provide facilities for free of charge.
Impact: Screening events increase utilization of preventive health and health promotion services for older adults. On average, organizations hosting coordinated screenings find about one-third of the screenings result in abnormal findings. Individuals with abnormal results are encouraged to follow up with their primary health care provider.
- At one event, a woman was discovered to have a blood glucose level over 400 mmol/l. She was urged to go immediately to the hospital for treatment, but initially refused believing that her inability to pay would prevent her from getting help. The AAA linked her to a health care provider who helped her manage her diabetes.
For more information: call 609-943-3573.
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Take Control of Your Health are peer-led programs that give people with chronic conditions and/or their caregivers the knowledge, skills and confidence to take a more active role in their health care.
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A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls
A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have this concern. It is based upon research conducted by the Roybal Center for Enhancement of Late-Life Function at Boston University.
A Matter of Balance consists of eight two-hour sessions for groups of 10-12 participants. Sessions are held in community sites such as senior centers, senior housing, libraries, etc. The class utilizes a variety of activities to address physical, social, and cognitive factors affecting fear of falling and to learn fall prevention strategies. The activities include group discussion, problem-solving, skill building, assertiveness training, videotapes, sharing practical solutions and exercise training.
During the class, participants learn to:
- view falls and fear of falling as controllable
- set realistic goals for increasing activity
- change their environment to reduce fall risk factors
- promote exercise to increase strength and balance
The program was designed to benefit older adults living in the community who:
- are concerned about falls
- have sustained a fall in the past
- restrict activities because of concerns about falling
- are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength
- are age 60 or older, mobile and able to problem-solve
The program has proven successful in reducing the fear of falling by increasing participants’ confidence that they can better manage falls risks and that they can take action to help reduce the risk of falling.
A Matter of Balance is currently available in selected counties [pdf 29k]. If your agency is interested in having staff trained as coaches, holding an A Matter of Balance class or for information on how to find a class in your area, please call 609 633-8746.
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Project Healthy Bones
This exercise and education program for people with, or at risk of osteoporosis includes exercises that target the body’s larger muscle groups to improve strength, balance and flexibility. The 24-week curriculum includes sessions on the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, drug therapy and lifestyle factors. The program is peer-led. Lead Coordinators from local health departments, county offices on aging, Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVPs) and other community-based organizations coordinate the program at the local level and oversee program delivery and training for peer leaders.
 Project Healthy Bones began in 1997 and today reaches over 2,000 older adults through nearly 150 programs and a network of over 400 agency staff and volunteer peer leaders statewide. The program is based on research that links strength training exercises to improved bone density in older adults. Hospital-based regional program trainers provide technical assistance and train Lead Coordinators.
Hospital-based regional Program Trainers, through partnerships with local providers, ensure oversight accountability; provide a vehicle for program expansion, and link local providers to hospital-based resources for technical assistance. The program is available on CD-Rom and can be replicated at the local level via agency staff and peer leaders.
Impact: The program has demonstrated improved balance, increased strength, improved nutrition, home falls prevention and increased socialization among participants. In a recent study of 271 participants, 90% of participants completing the class increased the average amount of weight lifted by ¾ to 1 pound, and 68% increased their calcium intake by an average of 500 mg.
Success of the program continues to spread by word of mouth. Currently, local physicians are referring individuals recently diagnosed with osteoporosis directly to the program. Despite lack of state funding, the program has been strengthened and expanded, and program integrity has improved through the efforts of many new community agency partners. The program maximizes partnerships, fosters volunteerism, and makes a real difference in the health and quality of individuals’ lives.
- "I frequently go to New York via the subway. To get up to the street, I used to have to hang onto the handrails for the last flight of stairs. Now, I can go up three flights of stairs much more easily."
For more information: contact the Office of Community Education and Wellness, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, 609-633-8746.
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