Programs & Social Services
Jefferson Health Community Health Programs
Program Name: Nurse Chat
Jefferson Health provides community health programs via a variety of events dedicated to improving the quality of life for our seniors through prevention and wellness initiatives, educational resources, health seminars, and screenings.
Legal Aid of Southeastern, PA
Program Name: Advanced Planning Legal Clinic
State Senator Art Haywood hosts an Advanced Planning Legal Clinic for eligible Montgomery County residents aged 60 and older, in partnership with Legal Aid of Southeastern PA. LASP offers free civil legal aid for low-income, vulnerable people in Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery counties. The clinic will offer free help with completing a simple will, power of attorney, and/or medical directive.
Pennypack Farm & Education Center Fresh Produce Program
Program Name: Produce Distribution
Every week, our seniors look forward to receiving fresh, locally grown produce from Pennypack Farm. This incredible partnership not only provides healthy fruits and vegetables but also brings a sense of connection to the community and the people who grow their food. It’s a highlight of the week that supports wellness, good nutrition, and joyful living.
Montgomery County Office of Senior Services
Program Name: My Life, My Health (Chronic Disease Self-Management)
Millions of adults live with one or more chronic health conditions. Our programs will help people and their caregivers manage their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.
Participants make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program. Physicians and other health professionals, both at Stanford and in the community, have reviewed all materials in the workshop.
Topics include:
• Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation.
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance
• Appropriate use of medications
• Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals
• Nutrition
• Decision making
• How to evaluate new treatments
This class is six sessions, with each lasting 2 to 2.5 hours.
Program Name: Healthy Steps for Older Adults
Healthy Steps for Older Adults (HSOA) is an evidence-based falls prevention program for adults ages 60 and over. The program is designed to raise participants’ fall prevention knowledge and awareness, introduce steps they can take to reduce falls and improve their health and well-being, and provide referrals and resources.
Two 2-hour workshops are offered to interested individuals in the community at facilities such as senior community centers and health care organizations.
Program Name: Healthy Steps in Motion
This falls prevention exercise program is designed for adults 60 years of age and older. The program is taught by Certified Workshop Leaders and is designed for people of all fitness levels. Class starts with a warm-up, followed by strength and balance exercises, and ends with a cool-down stretch. There are three levels of exercises, which enable participants to continue HSIM for as long as they like.
Healthy Steps in Motion (HSIM) strives to reduce the risk of falling by:
•Building body strength
•Increasing flexibility
•Improving balance
HSIM promotes increased socialization and physical activities outside of the program among participants. The class consists of eight sessions, each lasting 1 hour, with an extended first and last session for physical assessments.
Program Name: Walk With Ease
The Arthritis Foundation’s program has been proven to reduce the pain of arthritis and improve your overall health. No matter if you need relief from arthritis pain or want to be active, the Arthritis Foundation’s six-week Walk With Ease program can teach you how to make physical activity part of your everyday life safely.
Studies by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging of the University of North Carolina show that Walk With Ease is proven to:
• Reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis
• Increase balance, strength, and walking pace
• Build confidence in your ability to be physically active
• Improve overall health
Classes meet for 6 weeks. Each session is approximately 1 hour in length.
Program Name: Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention
Medical authorities agree that suitable exercise for people with arthritis should incorporate components that can improve muscular strength, flexibility, and fitness.
Increased muscular strength supports and protects joints, reducing pain. Flexibility exercises also help to reduce pain and stiffness, thus improving mobility. Stamina or fitness is essential for overall health and the proper function of your heart, lungs, and muscles.
Tai Chi for Arthritis helps people with arthritis improve their flexibility, balance, and more. It improves balance both mentally and physically, thus significantly reducing the rate of falls in older adults. Additional benefits include improving relaxation, vitality, posture, and immunity.
Tai Chi for Arthritis is an 8-session program with each session lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour. Exercises can be done seated or standing.
Program Name: National Diabetes Prevention Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you make a life change. This program helps you learn how to change your lifestyle to prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
Groups meet for 16 weekly sessions and monthly follow-up sessions until reaching one year with a trained Lifestyle Coach. Sessions are 1 hour each and cover topics such as weight loss, physical activity, healthy choices when eating out, and portion size.
Program Name: WISE (Wellness Initiative for Senior Education)
The WISE Program is a wellness and prevention program targeting older adults, which is designed to help them celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices, and avoid substance abuse. It provides valuable educational services to older adults on topics including medication misuse and management, stress management, depression, and substance abuse. Created by NJPN and implemented locally by prevention agencies across the country, WISE promotes health through education concerning high-risk behaviors in older adults.
During the lessons, participants are educated through interactive exercises that include small-group discussion and projects. They are also given tools and resources to take home.
Classes meet once a week for 6 weeks. Each session is 2 hours in length.
Program Name: Healthy IDEAS (Identifying Depression and Empowering Activities for Seniors)
Healthy IDEAS is a one-on-one program designed to detect and manage depressive symptoms among at-risk older adults. The program is delivered by non-mental health professionals, such as case managers, social workers, and care coordinators, who employ a short-term, focused intervention to support better management of depressive symptoms and increased engagement in meaningful activities. Healthy IDEAS engages local mental health experts to provide back-up and support for staff.
Meeting logistics are scheduled at the discretion of the facilitator and participant.
Program Name: Chronic Pain Self-Management
Techniques to deal with symptoms of chronic pain conditions, such as fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration, with emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for managing pain.
Topics include:
• Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
• Balancing activity with rest
• Tools for overcoming worst-case thinking
• How our minds affect pain and how we can use our minds to lessen pain
• Negative emotions
• Healthy eating
• Appropriate use of medication
• Working more effectively with health care providers
• Communicating with friends and family
• Communicating with the health care system
• Communicating with oneself
• Action-planning, problem-solving, decision-making
This class is six sessions, with each lasting 2 to 2.5 hours.
Program Name: Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) is a low-impact recreational exercise program that incorporates an educational component. Classes consist of multiple exercise activities, including warm up, stretching, strengthening, cardiovascular endurance, balance, coordination, and cool down. Breathing and relaxation techniques are also included.
Objectives:
To improve:
• Functional ability
• Self-confidence
• Self-care
• Mobility
• Muscle strength
• Coordination
To reduce:
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Stiffness
The class meets for one hour twice a week for 8 weeks or once a week for 11 weeks.
Program Name: Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers gives you the skills to take care of yourself while caring for someone else. By taking care of your own health and well-being, you become a better caregiver. This class is designed to give Caregivers the tools they need to improve self-efficacy. It is shown to have a positive impact on Caregiver health.
Objectives:
• Reduce Stress
• Increase Exercise
• Improve Relaxation
• Improve Self-Care with Regular Medical Checkups
• Manage Emotions and Reduce Guilt, Anger, and Depression
• Improve Self-Confidence
• Cope with Caregiver Demands
• Utilize Community Resources
Class topics include:
• Taking Care of You
• Identifying and Reducing Personal Stress
• Communicating Feelings, Needs, and Concerns
• Communicating in Challenging Situations
• Learning From Our Emotions
• Mastering Caregiver Decisions
Class format includes presentation, discussion, brainstorming, modeling, and dramatization. Class is held once a week for 6 weeks. Each class lasts 1.5 hours.
Non Evidence-Based Programs (30-45 minutes each)
Program Name: Safe Driving for Seniors
This presentation provides advice on how seniors can continue to drive safely for longer. It includes indicators designed to gauge driving ability as well as considerations for life after a driver’s license.
Program Name: Watching Out for Us
This presentation reviews skills for safe walking. This program is interactive for participants and discusses topics such as crossing the street, visual barriers, parking lot safety, and much more.
Program Name: Talking with your Doctor
How to Prepare: Learn how you can take an interactive role in your healthcare! This presentation features tips on how to get ready for a doctor’s visit, effectively talking with a doctor about health concerns, making decisions together about treatment, and remembering what was discussed following the appointment.
Program Name: Let Gun Safety Be Your Target
This presentation explores the issues that affect seniors and how those issues play a role in gun safety. The goal of this program is to present the best and safest practices for any senior who may find themselves in close proximity to a gun.
Program Name: Fall Prevention
This presentation reviews falls and fall risk. As we grow older, our fall risk increases. Learn what causes falls, how to address the fear of falling, and what you can do to prevent your fall risk.
Program Name: Making Lifestyle Changes
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: Diabetes is on the rise in America. Prevention is key. This presentation explores what diabetes is, signs and symptoms, complications, and what we can do to prevent or delay our Type 2 Diabetes Risk.
Program Name: Fire Safety for Seniors: This presentation reviews fire safety information directed at seniors. The goal of this program is to help seniors prevent fires and learn how to prepare for fire emergencies.
Program Name: Road to Happiness: Understanding Depression: Depression is a medical condition that affects many older adults, but depression is not a normal part of growing older. This presentation examines factors that put seniors at an increased risk of depression, explains how to detect depressive symptoms, and reveals methods that help those affected begin to feel like themselves again.