Health Center Highlights
These health centers are just some of the great examples of age-friendly programs and services across the United States, from health centers that provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 30 million patients across 14,500 communities annually. These health centers met their community’s need beyond medical care, serving their patients with a holistic approach to care and promoting initiatives that specifically benefit them as they age. We applaud their outstanding commitment to their communities!
The Alameda Health Consortium is the regional association of community health centers that work together to support their communities in achieving comprehensive, accessible health care and improved health outcomes for everyone in Alameda County, California. Learn about the Alameda Health Consortium’s Bay Area Community Health Center’s four mobile vans that serve the Bay Area community residents including the unhoused, older adults, and children.
Altura Centers for Health, located in Tulare, California, has been providing primary, preventive medical and dental care since 1995. Altura’s outreach team works closely with families, individuals, and the community to promote good health and provide education and support to the Central Valley population. Their initiative, Walk with a Doc, was founded in 2005 by Dr. David Saber, and was designed for patients that are looking to boost heart health and enhance overall well-being through combined socialization and physical activity. This program has since spread nationwide and continues to be very popular with the health center’s older adult population. Walking is low-impact physical activity and is easier on the joints than running. It is safe – with a doctor’s okay – for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions, and those who are more than 20% overweight— making it perfect for those who are managing one or more chronic conditions.
Broward Community and Family Health's dedication to improving blood pressure control recently earned them national recognition through the American Heart Association and American Medical Association Target BP Program. This initiative empowers care teams to achieve better health outcomes and help patients avoid heart attacks and strokes. Visit the AMA/AHA Target BP Program for trainings for medical professionals, patient handouts like the chart Control Your Blood Pressure, a resource that can help patients understand blood pressure readings, and ways for your health center to receive recognition for your work to keep your patients healthy through optimal BP rates. Congratulations to Broward Community and Family Health Center!
Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. (CHCB) treats and cares for patients with "caring hands and open hearts" meeting each person with compassion, respect, and a commitment to their holistic well-being. CHCB addresses the whole person, including their physical, emotional, and social needs, rather than just treating conditions. Aging patients often endure complex situations and chronic conditions that require more than a single-disease-focused approach. It requires a team-based approach where CHCB caregivers provide a holistic care model that centers around patients’ goals, hopes, and concerns. Ultimately, treating patients with "caring hands and open hearts" means anchoring stability and hope in their lives to improve their health outcomes and enhance their quality of life.
The Community Health Center of Franklin County (CHCFC), serves the communities of western Massachusetts. CHCF practitioners provide care from infancy through older adulthood, offering a range of services including but not limited to medical, dental, behavioral health, office-based addiction treatment, community outreach, and diabetes education.
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center is the first community health center established in Connecticut, with a long history of serving New Haven neighborhoods and serves nearly 53,000 patients. Their mission is to measurably improve the health and well-being of the communities they serve by providing excellent and compassionate care for all. Since its opening, the Center has opened numerous new care sites and continually expands services in order to meet the needs of their patients. Through this action, fourteen Connecticut artists were selected to participate in the “HeART of Healing” Art Initiative. They were commissioned to create and/or provide works of art that are “soothing, engaging, and that celebrate the communities of service.” These works on display now serve as a place to gather and engage patients, particularly their older adult patients, many of whom were socially isolated and experiencing loneliness, through community outreach events.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy Community Health), located in Massachusetts, has empowered over 600 patients to self-monitor their blood pressure and actively engage in their own health care, since its inception in 2021, with the Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP). In 2021, roughly one-half (55.3%) of their over 3,300 patients had their blood pressure under control. After two years of the SMBP program, two-thirds (66.5%) of patients have effectively managed their hypertension. This significant increase of patients who have effectively managed hypertension is a testament to the hard work of their program staff, the active participation of their patients, and evidence that the program's success. Taking an active role in monitoring patient's blood pressure on a regular and ongoing basis, with individualized support and educational resources from their staff, has increased patients' awareness and insight into managing their hypertension.
Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center has numerous locations on the island of Hawaiʻi and promotes lifelong health and wellness through quality healthcare that is comprehensive, integrated, and accessible to all-- with an emphasis on REACH: Respect, Excellence, Advocacy, Compassion, and Humility. Their Street Medicine Outreach program brings healthcare directly to the unhoused or others with limited access to care and they have robust programming for their Kūpuna population.
NEW Health is located in Boston, Massachusetts. Since early 2022, NEW Health’s Food Delivery Program offers monthly bags of fresh produce directly to the doorsteps of over 20 elder residents in the North End. These produce distributions have effectively reduced the prevalence of food insecurity in the neighborhood and have helped dozens of residents every month. NEW Health also collaborates with local partner, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), to offer health education classes for older adults in the North End. The classes focus on several health topics such as nutrition, stroke awareness, blood pressure, and oral health. Participants are also treated to a free lunch by ABCD while they learn about the different topics.
Progressive Community Health Centers have three locations in Milwaukee, WI, and proudly serve their communities, ensuring accessible and comprehensive care. Each site offers a wide range of services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, and walk-in appointments to meet the variety of their patients' needs.
Sacopee Valley Health Center (SVHC) serves the communities between the Saco and Ossipee Rivers of Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. SVHC, opening its doors on September 20, 1976. Integrated primary care was adopted in 2005, and with this implementation access to Behavioral Health consultants and care managers encompassed the core values of service and health, offering comprehensive care from newborns to older adults.
Whittier Street Health Center is located in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Whittier offers comprehensive, innovative health care and provides targeted outreach and education to their patients. “By offering comprehensive and integrated health care services to our patients in our clinics, mobile health programming, and community outreach, we improve access to high-quality services that are designed to meet their health care and social support needs as efficiently and seamlessly as possible,” said Frederica Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We launched our geriatric program to serve our seniors in 2004, and the program promotes healthy living and disease management to help our patients and community residents remain physically and mentally healthy, independent, and socially active, as they grow older. Program activities focus on holistic wellness and education, fitness, and nutrition education,” continued Williams. Programs like Whittier’s Club 1290, a peer-led older adult group conducted on-site at the health center, has members ranging in age from 60 to 97. The group aims to minimize experiences of loneliness, depression, boredom, and isolation in this population.