Healthy Aging Month

September is Healthy Aging Month, a national observance that promotes and places the spotlight on the physical, mental, and social well-being of adults as they age.

This year’s theme, “Curiosity Has No Age Limit,” emphasizes life-long learning and engagement and encourages adults to pursue new skills, experiences, and social interactions to support healthy aging.

Whittier Street Health Center offers a coordinated suite of healthy aging programs designed to keep older adults active, connected, and supported across medical, nutritional, behavioral health, and social wellness needs.

Our Geriatric Care services are coordinated by a specially trained geriatric case manager, offering individualized support for older adults. Services include:

· Preventive screenings

· Health insurance navigation

· Self-management goal-setting for chronic conditions

· Specialist referral coordination and medical supplies assistance

· Home visits and transportation assistance for seniors with mobility or access challenges

· Behavioral health assessment and intervention for age-related mental health needs

In addition to primary care supports, Whittier offers a number of social engagement programs, including:

· Group visits and discussion sessions to promote chronic disease management and prevention, connection, shared learning, and peer support

· Regular educational workshops for mental stimulation and relationship-building

· Walking groups and physical activity sessions for fitness, social connection, and community-building

· Cooking and nutrition classes

· Behavioral health support groups to reduce isolation and support emotional well-being

· Fitness classes

Since many seniors in our community are challenged by food insecurity, we offer access to our Food Pantry and Community Garden, and provide connections with WIC services, Fairfoods produce distribution, and the Fresh Truck mobile market.

Together, these programs form a holistic whole-person medical, behavioral, and social framework that keep older adults in our community active, connected, and supported.

For more information, please call Whittier’s Geriatric Case Manager at 617-989-3011.