SURPRISE, ARIZ., Aug. 11, 2016 – The BHHS Legacy Foundation has awarded a $60,000 grant to the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing to provide health education scholarships to qualified seniors living on fixed incomes. The education programs address diabetes, pre-diabetes, weight management and balance and fall prevention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all adults in the U.S. — 117 million people — have one or more chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. And, each year, 2.5 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
“The West Valley has a higher concentration of older adults and these are common health issues for many of them,” said Jennifer Drago, Sun Health’s executive vice president of Population Health. “These scholarships will allow us to help seniors who otherwise might not be able to pay for these programs.”
Seniors must apply for the scholarships, which will be awarded on the basis of need. For information on how to apply for a scholarship, call 623-832-WELL (9355).
The scholarships will cover four separate programs.
- Diabetes Self-Management Education/Training (DSME) Program, accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, is a 10-hour program that teaches individuals with diabetes how to manage their disease through good nutrition, physical activity, self-monitoring, medication management, reducing risks and preventing diabetes complications.
- The 12-week Diabetes Prevention Program uses evidence-based practices to assist those with pre-diabetes to prevent or delay the onset of type-2 diabetes. The program focus is on good nutrition, increased physical activity and other lifestyle changes.
- “Weigh” To Go! is a 12-week series designed to help individuals safely lose weight through healthy eating, becoming more active and using tools designed for successful behavior change.
- The Balance and Strength Training program features eight hours of fitness instruction in a small group. Participants work on improving balance, lower-body strength, core strength and flexibility. Exercises are customized to participants’ abilities. Fall-prevention information and a home exercise plan are included.
All programs are taught by health professionals including two registered dietitian nutritionists who also are certified diabetes educators and an exercise physiologist/health coach.
About BHHS Legacy Foundation
BHHS Legacy Foundation was funded from the sale of Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems in 2000. Proceeds from this transaction have continued to provide health services to underserved people living in greater Phoenix and the Tri-State region. Legacy Connection (the parent organization) and the Foundation are affiliated Arizona 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit public charities. The mission and vision for both charities is to maintain their history of helping community organizations improve the health and quality of life of citizens in need. To date, both the Foundation and Legacy Connection have invested more than $75 million in these causes.
About Sun Health
A long-standing champion of healthy living and superior health care, Sun Health is a community-based nonprofit providing pathways to population health through philanthropy, community wellness programs and services, and senior living prohttp://sunhealth.orggrams and communities. Sun Health Community Wellness includes the Centers for Health & Wellbeing, Care Transitions, Medication Management, Memory Care Navigator, Vial of Life/File of Life, and Community Education programs.
