Initiatives
Medication Safety Bags
A collaborative effort between the Partnership for Healthy Aging (PHA) and the Wood County Falls Prevention Coalition is focusing on creating and distributing Medication Safety Bags to community members in Marathon and Wood counties. This effort began in the fall of 2009 and has received funding from the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin (ADRC-CW), Aspirus, Bethel Center and Ministry Health Care to purchase red canvas medication safety bags.
Download more information on the Medication Safety Bag Program.
Fire Department Outreach
The Partnership for Healthy Aging is collaborating with the Rib Mountain Fire Department to gather information on falls in the older adult population. A survey has been developed and distributed to all Marathon County Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Responders to discover what issues the Fire Department staff and volunteers are seeing regarding older adults and falling. Results of the survey will help determine what type of services and resources can be would better serve our community.
Community Education
The Partnership for Healthy Aging (PHA) works to provide community-wide educational resources and opportunities for healthy aging.
PHA continues to collaborate and encourage evidence-based programming for older adults in Marathon County.
PHA determines the need and interest in the following evidence-based programming in rural communities of Marathon County – Living Well with Chronic Conditions, Stepping On: building confidence and reducing falls, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Strong Bones, Tai Chi and Gentle Yoga.
PHA also promotes the proper disposal of unused or expired medications by using the free Medication Drop-Box Program. Six drop-box locations are now available: Wausau Police Department, Everest Metro Police Department, Kronenwetter Police Department, Rothschild Police Department and Colby-Abbotsford Police Department.
As people get older, they become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Older people may also be at a higher risk for alcohol interactions with prescription medications and even over-the-counter drugs. PHA will be providing easy to understand educational information on the risks associated with alcohol use for older adults.
