Recorded presentation

M. Susan Grinslade, PhD(c), RN¹, Linda M. Kaufman, MSN, RN, CS², Linda Hook, RN, MSHP³, Yolanda Santos, DrPH⁴, and Yolanda R. Davila, PhD, RN¹. (1) Dept of Chronic Nursing Care, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mail Code 7950, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, 210 567-5839, grinslade@uthscsa.edu, (2) Environmental Health & Wellness Center, Environmental Health Program Nursing Manager, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, 911 Castroville Road, San Antonio, TX 78237, (3) San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Nursing Program Manager, 332 W. Commerce #303, San Antonio, TX 78205-2489, (4) Good Samaritan Center of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, Director of Planning and Adult Family Service, 1600 Saltillo St., San Antonio, TX 78207

A collaborative project among the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, Good Samaritan Center of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, and COSA Department of Community Initiatives Senior Nutrition Program provides a unique opportunity to maximize partnership resources that bring health promotion to an at-risk community senior population that is predominantly Hispanic with a high rate of poverty and limited formal education. This at-risk population experiences barriers to accessing health promotion information and services. The faith-based community collaborator forms the basis upon which the other collaborators bridge the cultural and linguistic barriers for this senior population. The collaborative project provides comprehensive health screening and risk analysis, as well as health promotion information. The risk analysis targets risk behaviors related to lifestyle and participation in preventive health activities. This analysis is combined with health screenings for cardiovascular health, body fat composition, depression, mental status, peripheral arterial disease, medication management, blood glucose, and immunization status. A computer based health appraisal system utilizes the assessment data to generate an individualized health profile for each senior. The health profile information is reviewed with each senior. Appropriate health promotion education and referral is provided. By empowering seniors in the community with information specific to their health, an opportunity to improve individual and community health capacity is created. With capacity building at the individual and community level, each of the collaborative partners helps the larger community to move toward achievement of Healthy People 2010 goals.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss a collaborative partnership project among a health department, university school of nursing and faith-based community organization to promote senior health.
• Describe the "Together for Better Senior Health" collaborative project.
• Discuss how cultural and linquistic barriers to accessing community-based health screening can be bridged by inclusion of a faith-based community collaborator.
• Discuss how the collaborative project strengthens the community's health and builds community capacity.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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