Greetings!,

Health Care Comes Home
 
People all around us are living longer than ever before - which is great news! But given the aging population, many people need additional support to be safe and healthy in their homes. In fact, each week I seem to meet people who are transitioning from being self-sufficient and independent to "frail."  

This should come as no surprise. The older adult population in the U.S. is growing rapidly and about 10% of people over age 65 are homebound.
 
There is no single definition for what makes someone homebound (see more at right). But it is clear that poor mobility or limited travel options can negatively affect an older person's health.
 
If you can't move properly or don't have access to the doctor's office, how can you possibly get the health care you need?  So as health/service providers, we need to come up with new ways to meet the growing needs of homebound adults.
 
One great option for local seniors is the CHA House Calls program, which recently expanded from Cambridge and Somerville to serve older adults in Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford and Revere. Learn more. 

Coming Events

 

4th Annual CHA Health Fair at Meadow Glen Mall in Medford 

We will be in full force on Thursday, September 17 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. with health screenings, give-a-ways, alternative therapies, raffles and an incredible number of resources for older adults. Learn more. 

 

Cambridge Somerville Alzheimer Partnership Meeting 

Join us September 24 at 10 Beacon St, Somerville, 2nd fl starting at 9 a.m. Newcomers welcome.

 

Watch the Health is Wealth TV Show

 

Roberta Robinson of the Cambridge Health Alliance Elder Service PlanCHA's Roberta Robinson has a new guest each month on local cable channels to share wisdom and expertise on a number of health topics. Now available in Everett, Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Malden, Chelsea, and Revere. Learn more.

  


 

CHA in the News

 

 

CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE is a vital and innovative community health system that provides essential services to Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.  For more information, visit www.challiance.org.

This newsletter provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided in this newsletter, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. 
Thank you.

  

 

What makes a person homebound?

People who are homebound have a range of disabilities, including medical and/or psychiatric conditions and physical or cognitive limitations.
 
For example:

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Medicare defines an individual as homebound if leaving the home requires substantial effort or assistance, and if this limitation is due to an illness or injury.

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Researchers have defined homebound status on self-reported degrees of confinement. For example - the duration of confinement or the maximum time someone can be away from home.

 

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Private, community-based health and human service providers  may consider someone homebound if they have a significant degree of permanent functional limitation.

 

 

You can learn more about this at the following source. 


Feedback

I am thrilled to have heard from many of you about this newsletter, and I want to make this a useful (and quick!) read each month. If you have any feedback, or have a topic you would like to hear about, please send me an email.