Newsroom

PRC Program Celebrates Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme is Unleash the Power of Age, in which we are encouraged to help our influential, wise, and vital older Americans stay positive, active, and looking forward. PRCs have partnered closely with CDC’s Healthy Aging Program, which has funded the Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) since 2001. This thematic network is a group of PRCs along with numerous CDC and national partners that helps ensure the translation of research into practice supporting this month’s Older Americans Month theme; see below for a partial list of publications and prevention strategies:

See the latest scientific journal articles by HAN and CDC’s Healthy Aging Program, published in April 2013, about:
- The differences in beliefs and communication practices between consumers and primary care providers regarding cognitive functioning.
- Linking prevention research to public health practice in the area of environments for healthy aging.
Download the booklet about the Healthy Aging Research Network [pdf 4M].
Download the article Simple Steps to Avoid Falls Risks [pdf 748K].
Read about Enhance Fitness, an exercise program for older adults that has gained nationwide recognition.
Read about PEARLS, a program that helps older adults manage depression.

Dangerous Decibels^® Wins the 2013 Safe-In-Sound Award
Oregon Health and Science University PRC’s core research project is adapting Dangerous Decibels® for American Indians. Dangerous Decibels won the 2013 Safe-In-Sound Award for Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention. The award was created in 2007 by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association, to share the successes of organizations with measurable achievements in hearing loss prevention. The award recognized the development, cultural adaptation, and widespread dissemination of Dangerous Decibels, which has positively changed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in youth and adults regarding hearing loss prevention. Read the project description about the PRC adaptation of Dangerous Decibels for more information.

PRC Finds Program Improves Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Black Church Members
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill PRC conducted a two-year study to test a health program in black churches in Michigan and North Carolina. The program, Body & Soul, aims to improve eating behaviors among black church members. Findings showed a small significant increase in members’ fruit and vegetable consumption but also stressed churches need for technical support with program start-up and maintenance. See “Promoting Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Members of Black Churches, Michigan and North Carolina, 2008-2010,” released March 14, 2013, by Preventing Chronic Disease.

PRC Aides in the Expansion and Evaluation of the EnhanceFitness Program
EnhanceFitness is an innovative, award-winning senior exercise program, developed collaboratively by University of Washington PRC, with Senior Services and Group Health based in Seattle, Washington. In 2012, Senior Services partnered with the YMCA of the USA to license Enhance Fitness and potentially expand the program to the YMCA’s 2,600 local sites. Also in 2012, Senior Services launched a new online data-entry system to allow more accurate and timely evaluation of program and participant progress. The University of Washington PRC continues to lead the research and evaluation of EnhanceFitness and is excited about the new developments. For more information, read about the scientific evidence behind EnhanceFitness.