Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Seunghyun Yoo, DrPH¹, James Butler, DrPH¹, Thistle I. Elias, MPA¹, Steve M. Albert, PhD¹, and Robert M. Goodman, PhD². (1) Department of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto St. Parran Hall 231, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, 412-624-3613, syoo@pitt.edu, (2) Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Room A 223 Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261

In application of community-based participatory approaches in healthy aging practice, Blue Ribbon Health Panels (BRHPs) were established among residents of twelve public senior high-rise apartment buildings in Western Pennsylvania. A BRHP at each building, consisting of resident volunteers, identified and addressed health and social issues in their high-rise community. Each BRHP was facilitated by the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, using a six-step community empowerment process strategy (i.e. Entrée into community - Issue identification - Prioritization - Strategy building - Implementation - Transition). BRHPs identified issues ranging from having tailored health and resident services in the high-rise for healthy aging to deteriorating building conditions, hostility among residents, lack of participation, access to fresh food, and safety. In six months the BRHPs started to generate changes in the community by arranging food services, having a crosswalk painted in front of the high-rise, coordinating donation of exercise equipment for the residents, and organizing social events. At the one year mark, the BRHPs were viewed as resident representative groups advocating healthy aging and wellbeing issues. Through the process community leaders emerged, BRHPs accomplished health and social outcomes rather quickly, and the community recognized the university and other collaborating organizations as their partners for problem-solving. Although it needs further maturation, development of a BRHP seems to be a promising approach to engage and empower the elderly in health aging efforts within their communities. Trust building and clear communication were keys to continuation and advancement of the BRHPs.

Learning Objectives: