Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services

Culpeper, Va. 

Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (RRCS) was established in 1972 as a part of the nation-wide movement to better provide support for older adults and others in the community who are in need of social services. In order to carry out its mission of improving the quality of life of seniors, RRCS offers home delivered meals, transportation, mobility management, adult day care, insurance counseling and other services. Over 1,000 seniors and their families in the greater Culpepper area are assisted annually.

RRCS was awarded $5,000 to expand and diversify the workshops offered under the Live Well, Virginia! Chronic Disease Self Management Education Program. Expanded implementation in the region has demonstrated positive outcomes for workshop participants and their families. RRCS noted that continued expansion is necessary to reach additional venues and populations in need of this service. In addition to improved health outcomes and relief of caregiver stress, cost savings are realized from the perspective of fewer emergency room visits and hospital readmissions.

One workshop participant, who admittedly had low self-esteem, particularly benefited from the Chronic Disease Self-Management workshop session on positive thinking. She realized how effective and motivating it is to concentrate on her good traits, instead of those she considered negative. At the end of the workshop she acknowledged and accepted that she was a “good person” who enjoyed helping others; gone was her previous self-image of being “overweight and not a genius.”

To learn more about Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services visit: www.rrcsb.org.