The purpose of the Health-Smart Holistic Health Centers (HSHHC) Program for Seniors is to address the problems of social isolation, food insecurity, and financial insecurity that negatively impact the health and health-related quality of life of many seniors in the Durkeeville and Soutel communities (target communities) in Jacksonville, Florida. This program will specifically address these problems by promoting social connection, food security, financial security, and asset security among approximately 600 seniors in the target communities directly or through promoting financial security and asset security among family members of these seniors who contribute financially to the health and wellbeing of these seniors.
The HSHHC Program is a multi-component, multi-partnered program that is designed to empower seniors to take charge of their social, mental, spiritual, and physical health under whatever conditions that exist in their lives. The major components of this program are: (a) the culturally sensitive, evidence-based, 9-week Health-Smart Behavior ProgramTM (called Health-Smart) adapted to promote Health-Smart behaviors (healthy eating, physical activity and depression and stress management behaviors) and social connection among seniors, and designed to be primarily implemented by members of the target communities, (b) a job training and placement program, (c) a financial literacy and asset security program, (d) a church-based food bank program implemented through churches in the target communities, (e) a food security and social connection app for seniors, (f) a smart-phone use training program for seniors, (g) insurance consultation, and (h) the program-wide Health-Smart events which include 1) a Mental and Physical Health and Wellness Promotion Expert Panel, 2) a Healthy Eating and Tasting Event, 3) a Health-Smart Walk, and 4) an Illness Prevention Complementary Medicine (e.g., Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation) Event.
Program implementation partners are being sought but to date include: UF Health–Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Urban League, the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast in Jacksonville, and the Humana Foundation. The program will be implemented through two health and wellness centers of UF Health that are based in the target communities and that will be transformed through the program to become Health-Smart Holistic Health Centers. Program success will be indicated by increased social connections, lower loneliness ratings, increased food security ratings, increased health-smart behaviors, and improved health outcomes (e.g., blood pressure) among the program participants. The program is being funded by an $820,000 one-year grant from the Humana Foundation.