Whether it’s to control the spread of infectious diseases or encourage a more active lifestyle, government officials are always working towards the health and well-being of their constituents. From local initiatives to national efforts, you might be surprised at how many health programs are in place that you don’t even realize are produced by your own local government. You might have seen public health campaigns to promote flu and polio vaccinations or urging people to get their mental health checked out. Or you might have heard of a local program such as Access-A-Ride for seniors to transport them to medical appointments or grocery stores.
A broader look at the nation’s health programs reveals a massive effort that encompasses everything from food safety to home care assistance for seniors. Federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are responsible for research, education, and public outreach on a variety of issues. You can find information about food, drugs, medical devices, mental health, violence prevention, and biomedical research on their websites.
HHS also provides programs such as Medicaid, which is managed by individual states with a mix of state and federal funds. This offers health coverage to children and parents, people with disabilities, and seniors. It also includes the Children’s Health Insurance Plan, or CHIP, for families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance.
There are also a variety of home care assistance programs for seniors to aid them in aging in place. Some of these programs offer in-home health aides who can help them with daily activities such as bathing and dressing, cooking, meal planning, and taking medication. Others are more comprehensive and offer assisted living facilities or even nursing home care. Programs like the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) and the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) are examples of these types of health programs.
Workplace wellness programs can make a big difference in the health of employees. Companies that have wellness programs have more productive employees and lower absenteeism rates. It’s important to remember that creating a culture of health in the workplace takes time and commitment from both management and employees. Here are 5 ways to improve the health of your workforce:
Health promotion involves encouraging and supporting healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, stress management, and tobacco and alcohol use cessation. Programs may also focus on reducing health risks, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. They can also include education, support groups, and community action to address specific problems such as poverty, unemployment, environmental hazards, and discrimination. Successful health promoting interventions often involve innovative development of a limited number of high-priority actions, effective performance monitoring and evaluation, partnerships and coalitions with diverse stakeholders, communication to influence behavior change, and advocacy for political commitment and resources. Examples of successful health interventions include smallpox eradication, tuberculosis control, smoking cessation, and AIDS epidemic prevention.