Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc.

Newport News, Va. 

Since 1974, the Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA) has served older residents of the Newport News area by advocating for older adults, providing needed social services, and coordinating care. In its most recent fiscal year, PAA served 134,000 meals, provided 20,000 trips to non-emergency medical appointments, and provided nearly 17,000 hours of personal and adult day care for seniors. In addition, PAA coordinated care for 2,000 older adults and helped nearly 1,700 older adults transition to needed levels of care.

In 2017, PAA was the recipient of an Impact1890 grant which was used to strengthen the impact of its Chronic Disease Self-Management and Matter of Balance programs. As a result of that funding, PAA was able to expand (more than double) the program, train more leaders, and have additional workshops with more completers. As a result of a very successful implementation, PAA was awarded $10,000 to expand its education programming to include Chronic Pain Self-Management (CPSMP) for older adults who have a primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic pain.

One socially isolated Chronic Disease Self-Management participant with decreased mobility was driving to pick up her mail within the housing community. After starting the workshop, with the emphasis on increasing activity, she started walking to pick up her mail. Then she started walking with others around the community for exercise and she became less socially isolated. At her next doctor visit, her blood pressure and weight had both decreased. This change in her health habits has continued long after the course ended.

To learn more about Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc. visit: www.paainc.org.