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Promote Healthy Aging

As part of our goal to improve the health and quality of life for seniors and adults with disabilities, Aging & Disability Services has embarked on a number of Healthy Aging initiatives with our community partners. These efforts include improving access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.

The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) highlighted the health promotion efforts of ADS in the following report:

• Case Studies of Health Promotion in the Aging Network, January 2006.

Eat Well

Community Meals:

Congregate meal programs help meet the dietary needs of adults 60 years and older by providing nutritionally sound meals in a group setting. Nutrition education and social and fitness activities are also provided.

• List of ADS funded Congregate Meal Sites

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables:

The Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) enhances access to fresh fruits and vegetables for seniors and supports local sustainable agriculture.

Baskets of fresh produce are delivered to homebound seniors and include newsletters with information about unfamiliar foods, recipes, & information about the farmers. Each summer, one-time Market vouchers are provided to 2,000 low-income seniors.

• SFMNP Voucher Distribution Program
  The program provides a voucher for eligible seniors to use at Farmers Markets throughout King County. Applications will be accepted through May 28, 2008. Application and Program Guidelines.
• SFMNP Survey Results
  Results of 2003 survey distributed to farmer's, market managers, and senior consumers.
• SFMNP Evaluation
  Detailed evaluation of market basket pilot project.
• "Increasing Fruit & Vegetable Intake in Homebound Elders."
  Research Article on SFMNP pilot published in Preventing Chronic Disease, January 2004, Centers for Disease Control.
• WSU Nutrition Education: Farmer's Market Nutrition Programs

Recipe Book:

Info coming soon.

Be Active

• Enhance Fitness A low cost evidence based exercise program that focuses on strength, balance, aerobics, and flexibility. A program of Project Enhance.
• Active Options An interactive activity guide to assist seniors in finding programs to help them be healthy and active.
• Sound Steps A volunteer supported walking program designed to get senior adults moving and gaining the health benefits of regular exercise. The Sound Steps™ Toolkit is a guide to help organizations replicate a successful physical activity program for older adults.
• Neighborhood Quality of Life Study for Seniors (NQLS) A research project funded by the National Institutes of Health to examine the relation between one's neighborhood, quality of life, health, and physical activity.