As the Area Agency on Aging for the 10-county region, the Atlanta Regional Commission offers an array of health and wellness programs to help the region’s older population remain healthy and independent. Numerous community partners collaborate with ARC in the development and implementation of these programs.

Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration (SPARC)

This community-based model increases access to preventive health (immunizations, cancer screenings, blood pressure and cholesterol checks and more) services among older adults. ARC, county-based agencies, community health organizations and other health care providers collaborate to promote disease prevention by delivering these services in a single setting.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSM)

The Living Well program is composed of six workshops for people with chronic health problems, presented over the course of six weeks at convenient locations throughout the community. Trained leaders, who may have a chronic disease themselves, facilitate the workshops.

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
• how to evaluate new treatments

Pack Your Bag™ Medication Management Program

This program offers free medication consultations at senior centers, including information sessions on health issues important to older adults. Local CVS pharmacists who conduct the program address topics such as preventing drug interactions and managing medications effectively. Participating seniors can meet with the pharmacists one-on-one for personal medication consultation, enabling them to ask medication-related questions and receive tips on medication management. The pharmacists also help identify duplicate and out-of-date medications.

Care Transitions

The goal of this initiative is to enable older adults and their caregivers to move safely and smoothly from one healthcare setting to another, for example from hospital to home. Hospitals and community partners have collaborated to design procedures and materials that give participants necessary tools for navigating the healthcare system, accessing important resources and applying for benefits.

Physical Activity

Promotion of activities that are best practices throughout the region such as but not limited to community gardening, walking clubs and exercise programs.

Farmer’s Market Program/Nutrition Education

The Georgia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides vouchers seniors can use to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Also included are monthly nutrition education mailings to all senior centers; monthly nutrition programs by registered dietitians and other approved health care professionals and coordination of home-delivered and congregate meals.

Health Promotion Outreach & Community Education

Volunteers serve as a critical link to the metro Atlanta community providing education and support on how older adults can access programs and services.

Volunteer Opportunities

ARC offers a wide variety of engaging volunteer opportunities for individuals looking to make a positive difference in their communities and the lives of older adults and people with disabilities.

Personal Prevention Record

This tool allows a person to track his or her screenings and serves of a record of personal health information.

Professional Resources

Atlanta Foot Care Coalition

This coalition of individuals and organizations provides and promotes quality foot care to older adults through community awareness, education, service delivery and research. Foot care clinics are offered throughout the Atlanta area at senior centers and senior housing facilities.

The Aging & Mental Health Task Force

Representatives from both mental health and aging agencies work with persons who serve older adults to improve their awareness of mental illness in older adults, facilitate collaboration and improve access to mental health care.

Healthy Aging Coalition

This collaborative network of professionals meets quarterly to focus on the development of a comprehensive approach towards health and wellness planning for the regions’ older adults.