HJAR Sep/Oct 2019

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2019 43 LaShannon Spencer CEO Community Health Centers of Arkansas farmers’markets with their EBT card and/or Sr-FMNPvouchers, according to the website marketsnap.uark.edu. Another solution to the elderly obesity challenge is gardening. Tending to a garden, in particular, a raised garden bed requires physical activity—kneeling, standing, lift- ing, raking, and weed-pulling all occur in a typical session. This increases joint mobility and flexibility, but it’s also heart- and bone- healthy. According to a study conducted by researchers at a Swedish hospital, regular gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke by 30 percent in the 60-and-over set. Pruning, using scissors, and other small hand movements help to improve hand strength. Physical activity is a great way to help decrease body fat. Obesity is a gateway condition leading to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and more. The facts indicateArkansans severely struggle with these conditions. Arkansas is the seventh most obese state, with 35 per- cent of adults overweight. Almost two mil- lion people in Arkansas have at least one chronic condition. Forty-two percent of Arkansans live in rural areas of the state; the median age of those rural Arkansans is higher than in urban areas. This, combined with national statistics indicating rural resi- dents are more likely to be obese than urban residents, highlight the need for providers and other Arkansas health organizations to work together to find solutions and break this cycle of obesity for our rural, senior population. This cycle is tough to break, but as a society, we must do it. Changing bad habits into healthy life- styles can be more challenging for older Americans, specifically those in rural areas. Eating the same unhealthy foods and engag- ing in the same daily routines can become comfortable, especially if not changed for years or decades. It’s human nature. This be- ing said, changes toward a healthier lifestyle that is out of the norm must be made and kept. Our rural, senior populations cannot do it alone. We must help reinforce positive change. After all, they make up 21 percent of all Arkansans. How do we help? With regular well visits. In 2011, annual wellness visits were added to Medicare’s menu. It’s a needed, practical, potentially cost- and health-saving addi- tion. Unlike traditional periodic health ex- ams or annual physicals, wellness visits can be performed without a specified protocol. Wellness visits prioritize disease prevention and treatment plans. This builds a nurtur- ing prevention-focused relationship with the patient that will hopefully prevent acute or chronic illness. While some providers “As healthcare providers, we must do more to emphasize well visits and treatment plans.”