Traverse City Senior Center, MI is honored for their dedication to
promoting a healthy lifestyle for seniors in their community. Five other
centers also named award recipients.
LAS VEGAS, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Aging in America Conference
today in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and
CVS/pharmacy announced the recipients of its Prescription for Better Health
Award, after a nationwide competition for programs that provide seniors in
their communities with access to activities and education that promote healthy
lifestyles.
Traverse City Senior Center of Traverse City, Mich., was selected as the
top honoree in recognition of its program 'The Amazing Race,' which is a
16-week course designed to empower seniors to make healthy lifestyle choices
while also encouraging them to take advantage of resources in their hometown.
Each week seniors are given a "challenge" at a local business or agency that
relates to wellness or healthy living, such as bowling, miniature golfing and
mall walking. For the less active participants there is a "detour" that
includes activities like having their blood pressure taken and calculating the
number of calories in a certain food.
"It's very rewarding that NCOA and CVS/pharmacy recognize senior centers
like ours as we all strive to improve the health of seniors in our
communities," said Lori Wells, director of Traverse City Senior Center. "The
award affords a unique opportunity to share our program with other senior
centers and encourages them to implement a program similar to 'The Amazing
Race.'"
"Organizations like Traverse City Senior Center are doing exceptional work
that encourages seniors to make a positive impact on their health and
wellness," said Donna Phillips, Vice President for Membership of the NCOA. "We
are thrilled by the large response to the Prescription for Better Health Award
each year and were impressed with the remarkable programs that have been
implemented at senior centers across the country. We are pleased to recognize
a program such as 'The Amazing Race,' which can serve as a model to many other
centers."
The five honorable mentions include:
-- Capital Senior Center of Columbia, South Carolina
-- East Providence Senior Activity Center of East Providence, Rhode
Island
-- Friendship Circle Senior Center of Darby, Pennsylvania
-- Newton Senior Center of Newtonville, Massachusetts
-- Resources for Seniors, Inc. of Wake County, North Carolina
The Prescription for Better Health Award recipients were chosen for the
strength of their healthy lifestyle programs, positively impacting the health
of seniors in their community, while also designing programs that could be
easily implemented at other senior centers across the country.
"The Prescription for Better Health Award honors senior centers that are
committed to helping individuals make healthy lifestyle choices and improving
the quality of life," said Rob Price, senior vice president, retail
advertising and marketing of CVS/pharmacy. "We were inspired by the variety
of programs. It was a challenge to select just one as the winner, but we're
delighted to see all of these organizations honored for their hard work and
dedication to the senior community."
Programs receiving honorable mention include:
Capital Senior Center (Columbia, S.C.) - The "Palmetto Health (PH)
Lifestyle University" program is a three month course designed to empower
seniors to overcome barriers, stay physically fit and socially engaged. The
course consists of various types of education and group discussion, such as
hypertension and other chronic diseases, tips from a local doctor on reducing
stress, healthy eating and introduction to physical activity. Additionally,
senior participants are encouraged to become instructors, or "Community Health
Advisors" and work with the coordinator on conducting the program.
East Providence Senior Activity Center (East Providence, R.I.) - The
"Nutrition Weight Loss" program includes weigh-ins, lectures and the ability
to eat regular food. A key component to the program is the empowerment of
participants in designing the lecture series. At the end of the program
seniors receive impact evaluations, collective net weight loss for the group
and a satisfaction survey.
Friendship Circle Senior Center (Darby, Pa.) - The "Passport to Health"
program is a customized, collaborative, evidence-based program encouraging
older adults to increase their daily activity, gain valuable knowledge about
nutrition and live a healthier lifestyle. In keeping with the "passport"
theme, during the 13-week semester-long program, participants take an
imaginary trip to historical sites across the United States. Along the way
these older adults "earn miles" that can be redeemed for prizes as they attend
health education lectures (fuel stops) or engage in physical activities (tune
ups).
Newton Senior Center (Newtonville, Mass.) - The "Fit and Balance Brain"
(FABB) program combines physical fitness with brain challenge. Seniors work
with volunteer college students studying physical therapy to guide them in
playing Nintendo Wii. The seniors play a variety of interactive sports games
as well as use the Wii Fit component to focus on specific muscle groups and
balance improvement. In addition to the physical component of the program,
the seniors are also able to develop relationships with local college
students.
Resources for Seniors, Inc. (Wake County, N.C.) - The "Fit & Strong"
program blends a cardiovascular, strength and flexibility program with a group
problem-solving curriculum. The program is designed to help manage the
symptoms of arthritis, develop confidence in the ability to exercise safely
with arthritis and promote a commitment to lifestyle change. The program is
8-weeks long and meets three days a week for 90-minute sessions that include
an education and discussion component. Before the end of the 8-week program,
participants meet with the instructor to develop an individualized exercise
contract that fosters ongoing maintenance of physical activity.
Traverse City Senior Center and the senior centers that received honorable
mentions will have an opportunity to present their unique health program
during an NCOA monthly Healthy Aging series webinar in May 2009.
To view the winning programs, learn more about how the programs can be
implemented in other locations, and for an upcoming posting of webinar dates
and times, please visit: www.ncoa.org.
About the National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for
older Americans - especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged - and
the community organizations that serve them. It brings together non-profit
organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that
improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of
organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits,
improve their health, live independently and remain active in their
communities. For more information, visit www.ncoa.org.
About CVS/pharmacy
CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS),
is America's largest retail pharmacy. The Company operates more than 6,900
CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to providing
expert care and innovative solutions in pharmacy and health care that are
effective and easy for our customers, both in its stores and online at
CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available
at www.cvscaremark.com.
Contacts:
Carolyn Castel
CVS/pharmacy
(401) 770-5717
ccastel@cvs.com
Scott L. Parkin
National Council on Aging
(202) 479-6975
scott.parkin@ncoa.org
Brett Cerf
Weber Shandwick
(617) 520-7128
elisabeth.cerf@webershandwick.com
SOURCE CVS/pharmacy
-0- 03/17/2009
/CONTACT: Carolyn Castel of CVS/pharmacy, +1-401-770-5717,
ccastel@cvs.com; or Scott L. Parkin of National Council on Aging,
+1-202-479-6975, scott.parkin@ncoa.org; or Brett Cerf of Weber Shandwick for
CVS/pharmacy, +1-617-520-7128, elisabeth.cerf@webershandwick.com/
/Web Site: http://www.cvscaremark.com /
(CVS)
CO: CVS/pharmacy; National Council on Aging; Traverse City Senior Center;
NCOA; CVS Caremark Corporation
ST: Nevada, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North
Carolina
IN: HEA MTC REA
SU: SCZ TDS AWD
PR
-- NE84946 --
0046 03/17/2009 13:07 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
