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Addressing Health Barriers for Elderly in Rural, Low-Income Communities

The elderly population, particularly in rural, low-income communities, faces significant barriers to accessing healthcare and maintaining well-being (Smith & Trevelyan, 2019). These barriers include limited access to healthcare services, geographic isolation, inadequate transportation, financial constraints, and low health literacy. Rural seniors often struggle with chronic conditions and disabilities, but healthcare resources such as specialized providers, hospitals, and rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, are often scarce. The digital divide further limits their ability to benefit from telemedicine and online health information, while social isolation exacerbates mental and physical health challenges.

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Occupational Equity for All Program Activities:

Health Literacy Workshops: These workshops will be held bi-monthly in accessible community spaces, libraries, and local health centers with the possibility of transportation provided on understanding healthcare systems, treatment plans, and self-advocacy.

Digital Literacy Training: Offer digital literacy workshops that teach individuals how to use online health portals, telemedicine platforms, and other digital tools needed to access OT services.

Chronic Disease Management Events: These events will be held in-person by an OTP bi-monthly along with pre-recored sessions able to view online. These events provide targeted education for people with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) to help them understand and ask questions of how OT can assist with daily management and improve their quality of life.

Easy-to-Understand Materials: Develop simple, multilingual educational materials explaining OT services and how individuals can access them.

Mobile OT Units: We will partner with local health agenices to deploy mobile occupational therapy clinics in rural and remote areas to provide direct services to underserved populations.

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Occupational Equity for All Program Outcome Goals:

Short Term Goals: (1 year to 3 years)

Increased Awareness: Launch public awareness campaigns and health literacy workshops, with at least 50% of the target population attending or engaging.

Improved Access to OT Services: Set up mobile OT units and teletherapy services, reaching at least 200 individuals in rural or under-resourced areas.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Establish telehealth programs offering virtual OT consultations to those unable to access in-person services due to geographic or mobility constraints.

Long Term Goals: (3 years to 6 years)

Policy and Systemic Change: Influence local health systems to adopt more inclusive health policies, such as expanded OT insurance coverage and integration of culturally competent care, benefiting future generations.

Sustained Community Engagement: Establish a network of at least 50 community partners and ambassadors actively promoting occupational justice and OT awareness.

Improved Quality of Life: The main goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the elderly population who live in a rural, low income community through increased health condition management education, sustainable health literacy, and reduce financial barriers related to OT services.

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Advocacy for Elderly, Rural, Low-Income Population:

Public Awareness Campaigns to Reduce Stigma: Reduce stigma surrounding disabilities, therapy, and seeking healthcare services in underserved communities.

Action Steps: Partner with community leaders, religious organizations, and influencers to run awareness campaigns that normalize therapy and healthcare for all individuals, regardless of cultural background. Use local media (radio, social media, community newspapers) to share stories of individuals who have benefitted from OT services, creating relatable role models and reducing stigma.

Advocacy for Accessible Community Infrastructure: Promote inclusive community design to remove physical barriers that limit meaningful occupation for people with disabilities, the elderly, and other marginalized groups.

Action Steps: Collaborate with urban planners, local governments, and disability rights organizations to advocate for accessible public spaces, including parks, community centers, and transportation systems.

Telehealth Advocacy: Promote the benefits of access to digital tools and training to improve engagement with telehealth services and digital healthcare platforms.

Action Steps: Partner with local libraries and community centers to offer free access to devices (e.g., tablets, computers) and internet for those without technology at home as well as training on technology devices.

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Rural Health Disparities:

The population of those 65 years of age and older in the United States continues to grow, with the country seeing faster growth in rural areas (Smith & Trevelyan, 2019). Given the increase in older adults living in the rural US, it is imperative that the country proactively address the health and wellness of this growing population, the impacts of social determinants of health, and supporting innovative solutions to improving rural older adult health. We need to address not only rural delivery sites, but an increase in telehealth and digital health options that can impact health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management.

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Overall Impact:

The Occupational Equity for All program aims to dismantle the systemic barriers that limit access to meaningful occupations and OT services. By addressing financial, geographic, cultural, and technological challenges, this comprehensive plan fosters an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive and engage in occupations that enhance their health and well-being. The community strives to achieve positive impactful effects through:

Increased knowledge about common chronic conditions and access to healthcare services such as telehealth within the elderly population.

Reduced stigma surrounding low-income communities and the “shame” of asking for and/or receiving healthcare services for a disability or health condition.

Increased awareness by partnering  with local business, schools, and churches to provide support for all members of a community; such as elderly individuals living in the rural areas.

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Funding:

To ensure the financial sustainability of the rural health program, a combination of diverse funding streams will be pursued, leveraging both public and private sources.

Federal Grants:

Grant Programs:

HRSA's Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program: Focuses on enhancing healthcare services in rural communities, with grants up to $250,000 (HRSA, n.d).

CDC's Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant: Supports chronic disease management and health promotion, especially among aging populations. (CDC, n.d)

NIH’s Geriatrics Health Grant Program: Offers grants for research and implementation of health innovations for older adults. (NIH, n.d)

State and Local Grants:

Apply for state-specific rural health or telehealth grants to improve access to healthcare services, such as the Rural Health Care Program. Partner with state departments of health for pilot programs on telehealth expansion and chronic disease prevention.

Private and Foundation Grants:

Approach private foundations with a focus on aging, rural health, and technology-driven healthcare, such as: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Focuses on health equity and rural health innovations. (Health communities, n.d)

Community Fundraising and Online Donations:

Launch an online donation campaigns via platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter, targeting individuals who have a vested interest in rural health and aging.

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Resources Needed:

To be able to accomplish and succeed with this program, we will need the following resources:

Healthcare Professionals: To give insight within their specific area of practice and how their service can benefit the elderly population:

Occupational therapy practitioners, social workers, etc.

Community: Donated facility for our monthly healthcare educational events as well as the possibility of providing public transportation for the elderly individuals who will be attending.

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Marketing Plans: To ensure widespread adoption of the program, a robust marketing strategy is critical. The marketing plan will focus on building awareness, educating older adults and their caregivers, and promoting the program to potential funders and stakeholders.

Target Audience

Primary Audience: Older adults (65+), particularly in rural areas, who are in need of healthcare services, telehealth options, and chronic disease management support.

Secondary Audience: Caregivers, family members, healthcare providers, local clinics, and community organizations in rural regions.

Tertiary Audience: Policymakers, potential funders, and the broader healthcare community interested in supporting rural health and aging solutions.

Channels and Strategies

Digital Marketing: Social Media Campaigns by creating engaging content on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and others, where many older adults and their families spend time. Content will include educational videos on telehealth services, success stories, and tips for chronic disease management.

Local and Regional Marketing:

Direct Mail Campaigns: Send brochures, postcards, and flyers to rural households through direct mail, featuring easy-to-understand explanations of available services and how to access telehealth.

Community Outreach: Partner with local healthcare clinics, churches, senior centers, and libraries to distribute printed materials, offer information sessions, and provide demonstrations of telehealth tools.

Community Engagement

Town Hall Meetings: Host virtual or in-person town hall meetings to engage rural community members directly, answer questions, and gather feedback.

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References:

Centers for disease control and prevention. (n.d.). Preventive health and health services block grant. https://www.cdc.gov/phhsblockgrant/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Social determinants of health. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm

Health resources and services administration. (n.d.). Rural health care services outreach program. https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/grants/outreach

Health Resources and Services Administration. (n.d.). Telehealth programs. https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/telehealth

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Geriatrics health. https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/clinical-research/geriatrics

National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Health disparities in aging.https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/health-disparities

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (n.d.). Our focus areas: Healthy communities. https://www.rwjf.org/en/our-focus-areas/focus-areas/healthy-communities.html

Smith, A. S., & Trevelyan, E. (2019). The older adult population in rural America: 2012-2016. United States Census Bureau.