Recorded presentation

Ruth A. Hagestuen, RN, MA, Director of Field Services, National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1501 N.W.9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, MIami, FL 33136, Gladys Gonzalez-Ramos, PhD, School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, 212-998-5932, gmg1@nyu.edu, and Elaine V. Cohen, PhD, Independent Research Consultant, 142 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023.

This session describes a unique community-based outreach program designed to build partnerships in diverse, medically underserved communities with frail elderly populations in need of services. Community Partners for Parkinson Care (CPP) is targeted to six U.S. regions, set in both rural and urban settings, with racially and ethnically diverse populations. These regions include: Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Chicago, IL, Lake Charles, LA, Springfield, MO and Augusta, GA. Underlying the CPP program conceptual foundation is the belief that in order for outreach to be effective, it must be a long-term effort, building in goals of sustainability and forming solid relationships with existing community groups. Central to CPP’s partnership model is the notion that there must be mutual collaboration in which partners learn from each other in a respectful and open environment. This session will outline different outreach strategies to reach elderly populations in need which emerged from the community partnerships developed. Hispanic (including undocumented), African American and Russian older adult populations which were not being reached with information or services were specifically targeted for outreach efforts. The range of partnerships formed included those with small community based agencies for door-to-door outreach, to those that have a larger infrastructure in the community and work through senior housing, church groups and existing senior centers. We will be presenting important lessons learned in this two-year project, and strategies for forming partnerships and effective outreach to the diverse elderly community.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate various strategies for forming partnerships in diverse communities to help underserved elderly. Describe ways to do outreach to chronically-ill elderly in diverse urban and rural communities to help them access services.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Parkinson Foundation
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation