Title: National Public Health Week Brings Professions Together to Promote Healthy Aging
Author:
Section/SPIG: Chiropractic Health Care
Issue Date:
April, 2005
During National Public Health Week in Davenport, Iowa, history was made. Palmer College of Chiropractic had a vision; to sponsor several interdisciplinary NPHW events unifying the local health professional communities to serve the needs of the aging in their town. And so it was.
In Palmer College’s 109 year history, collaboration with the local hospitals, nursing community, health departments, etc, had simply never occurred at this level. That is, until National Public Health Week. Several leaders within the Chiropractic Health Care Section of APHA are employed at Palmer College, including the section’s immediate past Chairperson, Lisa Killinger. She teaches Healthy Aging at Palmer, and saw an opportunity to sponsor events around this year’s NPHW theme. She suggested that Palmer get involved in NPHW events, and she and Julie Johnson, event coordinator, took it from there.
Three community based events were sponsored by Palmer College and the Trinity Hospital Nursing Association, along with partners from more than 20 local organizations with an interest in serving the needs of the aging community. More than 40 chiropractic students also volunteered throughout the week to help insure that the NPHW events all ran smoothly. The events featured healthy food, fun and dynamic presentations by local experts on topics ranging from exercise to oral health, and from financial fitness to living wills. A mini-workshop was also held to help older adults access the Internet for sound health information.
The events also included a variety of health screenings, including stroke assessment, memory exams, spinal health assessments, osteoporosis screenings, and much more. Attendees also gathered information from the representatives of the local health departments, the Senior Olympics, US Too Prostate Health services, the Center for Active Seniors, and numerous other community organizations.
All in all, these events were informative, innovative, and inclusive. Events leaders said, “We are anxious to see what we can do for next year’s National Public Health Week.”
[Editor's Note: For more on National Public Health Week, visit <www.apha.org/nphw>].