Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: January 2005

In this Issue:

HHS Promotes New Medicare Preventive Benefits
The High Cost of Diabetes
New Demographic Reports on Older Americans
ICAA Checklist Helps Older Adults Select Age-Friendly Fitness Facilities
Hearts N’ Parks Community Program Promotes Healthy Living
Upcoming Events

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HHS Promotes New Medicare Preventive Benefits
As of January 1, people with Medicare can take advantage of three new benefits: a one-time physical exam, cardiovascular screening, and diabetes screening. This is the first time that Medicare will pay for benefits that help older adults prevent diseases. HHS is also collaborating with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association on education and outreach efforts.
www.hhs.gov/news/press

The High Cost of Diabetes
The cost of diabetes reached $133.5 billion by the year 2000 for sick days, disability, early retirement, and premature deaths of diabetic Americans born between 1931 and 1941. In the 1990s, the average person with diabetes lost $2,800 in wages due to early retirement, $630 due to sick days, and $22,100 due to disability. About 18.2 million Americans have diabetes; and the disease is increasing at an epidemic rate. If the trends continue, one in three people born today will develop the disease, according to the CDC. Researchers at the University of Michigan and the Department of Veterans Affairs conducted the study with funding from the National Institute on Aging.
www.nia.nih.gov/NewsandEvents/

New Demographic Reports on Older Americans
The U.S. Census Bureau has just released a special report, We the People: Aging in the United States, that contains demographic, social, and economic characteristics of Americans age 65 and older. A total 42 percent of this population reported having a long-lasting condition or disability in 2000.
www.census.gov

The Center on an Aging Society, Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University released a new data source, Measuring the Years: State Aging Trends & Indicators. The publication provides information on topics ranging from demographic shifts, to health care concerns, to chronic conditions and disease prevention.
www.nga.org/center/databook04/

ICAA Checklist Helps Older Adults Select Age-Friendly Fitness Facilities
The International Council on Active Aging created a checklist to help older adults compare and rate local fitness facilities.
www.icaa.cc

Hearts N’ Parks Community Program Promotes Healthy Living
Hearts N’ Parks is a national, community-based program supported by the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Recreation and Park Association piloted in 1999 in North Carolina. The program is now used in 15 states at 56 locations. The program activities can be incorporated into nutrition and fitness activities, stress reduction, and other programs to promote physical activity and healthy eating. Hearts N’ Parks demonstrates the impact that community park and recreation programs can have on the health of community residents. Nearly 75 percent of Americans live within a two-mile walking distance of a public park.
www.nrpa.org

Upcoming Events for January -- March

4th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth
January 27-29; Miami Beach, FL

National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation
Feb. 14-20; Washington, D.C.

American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting
Feb. 23-27; New Orleans, LA

19th National Conference on Disease Prevention and Control: Health Disparities
March 1-3; Atlanta, GA

American Society on Aging/National Council on the Aging Annual Conference
March 10-13; Philadelphia, PA

Fifty Plus Fitness Association’s 22nd Annual Fitness Weekend
March 11-13; Palo Alto, CA

IHRSA 24th Annual International Convention
March 16-19; San Francisco, CA

ACSM Health and Fitness Summit
March 29-April 1; Las Vegas, NV

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The Blueprint Partners Project is an initiative of the Active Aging Partnership. For more information, contact the National Blueprint Office at the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology, 350 Freer Hall, 906 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
E-Mail: blueprint@kines.uiuc.edu
Phone: (217) 244-7122
Website: www.agingblueprint.org