Disease Prevention/Health Promotion – Programs/services designed to maintain or improve the health and well-being of older persons, including health screenings, information and medication management. Regular physical activity can substantially reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and high blood pressure.  Most individuals can benefit from regular moderate physical activity.  For example, two 15-minute walks or three 10-minute walks in a day would improve health for most peoples.  For more information call Becki Thomas at 606-674-6355.

Programs:

1.      Get Moving Kentucky! -  This is a spend-off from the eight week physical activity program offered by the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Health Education through Extension Leadership (HEEL) Program by the University of Kentucky-College of Agriculture and Kentucky State University.  Our program is a 12-month program using many of the principles and information used by the HEEL Program. 

Get Moving Kentucky! is a fun and flexible way to exercise.  Just get together with three other people - friends, neighbors, co-workers, or family members - or take off on your own and start walking, swimming, raking, or moving in a way that increases your heart rate for 15 full minutes.  Fifteen minutes of sustained activity equals one Get Moving Kentucky Physical Activity Mile, or PAM.

Teams can do their physical activity together or individually, so that it fits member’s schedules and lifestyles.  Teams keep track of their PAMs to see if they can accumulate 2,520 PAMs in one year, which equals six times the length of Kentucky. Individuals try to accumulate 630 PAMs in a one-year period.  Totals are reported to the Gateway Area Agency on Aging’s Health Promotion Coordinator so individuals and teams can see how they “measure up” against others in the county.  By the end of the Get Moving Kentucky! physical activity program, you’ll have a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.

Each individual or team that meets the required PAMs for the year, which starts July 1–June 30, will have included in the county group picture that will be displayed in the county newspaper.  Also, each participant will have the opportunity to attend a trip given by the Gateway Area Agency on Aging, as long as the individual or team has met at least half of the required PAMs, which would be 315 PAMs for individuals and 1260 PAMs for a team.

RULES TO REMEMBER:

1.      You must be at least 60 years of age to participant.

2.      Pay a registration fee of $3.00 to help defray the cost of the trip.

3.      No more than 4 people can be on a team.

4.      Individuals must accumulate 630 PAMS or Teams 2,520 PAMs.

5.      PAM Logs must be completed and mailed every 2 months.

2.      Health Fairs – Information related to chronic disabling conditions, advocacy related to health issues  (including osteoporosis, oral health, weight loss, hearing, vision, blood sugar, etc.)

3.      Exercise and Movement – Sessions are conducted in local Senior Centers.

4.      AARP Driver Safety Program – The nation’s first and largest classroom refresher course for motorists age 50 and older. An annual classroom course typically consists of two 4 hours sessions, conducted by an AARP trained instructor.  There is a minimum course fee of $10.00. Kentucky residents over the age of 55 will be able to receive a discount on their auto insurance once they have received their certificate from completing the course.  The certificate is good for 3 to 5 years depending on the insurance company.