Assessing health
Senior citizen issues expected to grow in next few years
What is the state of health in Washington County?
This is the question local officials sought to answer in the most recent county health assessment released last week after a year of collaborative brainstorming, analysis and conversations between local health professionals and organizations.
Led by the Washington County Health Department, Memorial Health System and Marietta Health Department several community members gathered over the course of 2016 to assess the strengths and needs of county residents in terms of health.
Their findings: behavioral health, chronic disease, poverty and educational issues are the priority concerns for county residents.
“I was surprised to not see senior issues at the top of needs,” said Washington County Health Commissioner Dick Wittberg. “Especially when we’re expecting the senior population to double in the next decade.”
But the top four identified were not shocking when taking into account how education, or the lack thereof, and poverty can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle leading to chronic illness and behavioral health concerns.
Contributing to the assessment were a variety of community organizations including Buckeye Hills, Family and Children First, Proactive Health Solutions, Washington State Community College and the Marietta Family YMCA.
“Being able to share resources with our community organizations was excellent,” said Jennifer Offenberger, director of marketing and public relations for the Memorial Health System.
Both Offenberger and Wittberg said their respective entities each have performed health assessments in the past on their own, but by state direction, joining together for this assessment has nudged the myriad community organizations to cross-reference each other’s programs and resources.
“We’re breaking down those health delivery silos,” said Court Witschey, director of population health at the county health department.
Part of the assessment identifies how the local organizations must redefine health care, as a basis of tackling linked concerns.
“If poverty is a key barrier to health care, how do you deliver health care for those with chronic disease if they live 45 minutes away from health care?” said Witschey. “So now we are focused on creating a network of health care… and creating master trainers for our numerous health programs so that people who live out in places like Cutler can learn from people in their own communities.”
Offenberger said the health system’s hunger solutions task force has already made strides in providing aid to those living in poverty in the county, but that specific action items from the collaborative assessment are still to be determined.
“As these committees meet they’ll be specifying action steps, but it’s too early to tell what those are,” she said.
Washington County Health Department’s Amy Nahley said three of the four committees have already met and are planning to address chronic disease pitfalls, education shortcomings and collaborative needs to promote behavioral health in the area. The health department is still hoping for more individuals to step forward to contribute to poverty solutions also, she said.
One program the health department already has in place is aimed at preventing the next generation of consumers from establishing tobacco habits.
“We received a $60,000 per year grant from the Ohio Department of health for youth tobacco prevention training and advocacy groups within the schools,” said Wittberg. “We just purchased ads in the movie theater to educate kids so they know vaping isn’t healthier than regular cigarettes.”
In the coming months the assessment participants will be meeting to form a community health improvement plan by early fall and the county health department will develop an agency strategic plan to support that plan.
To read the full health assessment visit oh-washingtoncounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/1714.
Local programs
Lifestyle Change Network Programs in Washington County:
¯ Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, Washington County Health Department.
¯ Diabetes Prevention Program, Washington County Health Department and Marietta Family YMCA.
¯ Diabetes Empowerment Education Program, Area Agency on Aging.
¯ Dining with Diabetes, Ohio State University Extension.
¯ Million Hearts (for those with hypertension and at-risk for heart disease), Ohio State University Extension.
¯ Complete Health Improvement Program, Washington County Health Department.
¯ Well FED, Ohio State University Extension.
¯ SNAP-Ed, Ohio State University Extension.
¯ Cooking Matters, Ohio State University Extension.
¯ Frontier Hiking Club, Washington County Health Department.
¯ Sole Mates Walking Club, Washington County Health Department.
¯ 55 Plus, Memorial Health System Wellness Center.
¯ Walk with a Doc, Memorial Health System Wayne Street Campus.
¯ A Matter of Balance, O’Neill Center.
¯ Tai Chi, RSVP of Washington County.
Source: Washington County Health Department, 740-374-2782.