Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA)

Charlottesville, Va. 

Initially established in 1975 as a federally mandated Area Agency on Aging, the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) is now a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to promote, establish and preserve sustainable communities for healthy aging. The primary goal is to provide services and information so that older adults can live healthy, safe and independent lives for as long as possible in the home of their choice.

JABA was awarded $10,000 in 2018 to help support its Live Well, Virginia! project and in particular, the Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) program. This evidence-based program, developed by Stanford University, requires highly trained volunteer educators. The grant enabled JABA to recruit and train more volunteers as well as provide the needed infrastructure so that JABA can strive to double the number of CDESME participants.

Sally, an older adult with hypertension, was excited about participating in a CDSME workshop. After the second week of the program, JABA’s nurse checked Sally’s blood pressure and was surprised – and pleased – to get a reading of 130/80. The nurse asked Sally what she was doing differently, and Sally responded by saying that the action plan she set up as a part of the CDSME course was to take her medications. She now feels empowered to become more active in caring for herself and achieving her goals.

To learn more about Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) visit: www.jabacares.org.