At A Glance
In New York State (NYS), 1 in 4 adults has arthritis. Increased physical activity can relieve pain and stiffness associated with arthritis and improve overall quality of life. Lifestyle management programs like EnhanceFitness can help adults get, and stay, active. Beginning in 2015, the NYS Arthritis Program collaborated with the New York State YMCA Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation) to deliver EnhanceFitness to adults. Because of these efforts, the program is available at 40 locations in 22 counties.
Public Health Challenge
The prevalence of arthritis is highest among older adults in New York. In fact, 51% of New Yorkers aged 65 or older have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, which is expected to increase as the population ages. Arthritis is also more common among people living in rural areas. Studies have shown that physical activity can improve arthritis symptoms. However, adults with arthritis are less likely to get physical activity than those without arthritis (21% vs. 31%). Lifestyle management programs like EnhanceFitness can help adults with arthritis get active and feel better. The NYS Arthritis Program teamed up with the Foundation with locations across the state, with a focus on reaching older adults and adults in rural areas.
Approach
With 130 locations statewide and a history of quality evidence-based programming, the Foundation and its network of YMCAs was a perfect fit to offer EnhanceFitness at the community level. Local YMCAs are strategic partners with local credibility. By offering this program on site and in other community settings, they are better able to serve older adults in both rural and urban areas. Starting in 2015 and over the next 3 years, startup funds were provided to three cohorts of YMCA Association, the entity that owns and operates YMCA branches, to offset initial costs of program delivery, such as training, equipment costs, and marketing.