impact
of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Healthy, Well-Nourished Population
Walk Across Arizona-Exercise Program for Seniors
Issue
With the US population over age 65 were identified, and regular meetings at the program kick-off and culmination.
growing rapidly, public interest in have been held since September of 2000 The 2002 –2003 16-week campaign is
improving the quality of life for with the CHAPS acting as the lead currently underway with the expansion
“seniors” is increasing. Many of the agency. This collaborative effort with to 5 additional counties, Apache,
diseases commonly thought to the retirement community led to the Cochise, Maricopa, Santa Cruz, and
accompany aging can be prevented and development of “Walk Across Arizona” Yuma. Each county has a link from the
seniors are looking for ways to keep using formats and materials similar to Walk Across Arizona site, , where teams
their remaining years healthy, active, programs used in Michigan and Texas. can register online and county leaders
and enjoyable. In 1997 a statewide The theoretical basis for the program can update a calendar of monthly
partnership was established that was to use social support networks to activities.
combines the resources of the college of increase physical activity levels within
Public Health (COPH) and Cooperative the community by developing and
Extension (CE). An essential maintaining walking clubs. Impact
component of the community Health The 16-week walking program is In the first year of the campaign, 34
Advancement Partnership (CHAPS) in designed for teams of up to 10 people. teams of 10 individuals walked 48,872
Pima County is to help contain health The teams have a friendly competition miles with 329 registered participants;
care cost through the development and to see who can get their pals, neighbors, the average number of days walked by
evaluation of an effective seniors co-workers, and family out to build a participants increased from 4.1 at entry
lifestyle program that could be healthy habit and walk for fitness. To to 4.6 upon exit, and an average of 11.4
maintained in a community and evaluate the success and benefits of the miles per person and 91.2 miles per
replicated in other communities in benefits of the walking program, entry, team were walked per week. The
Arizona. exit, and tracking forms were second year of the campaign started in
developed to characterize the mid-November 2002 with 35 teams
participants, and to track their physical registered, including 12 Cooperative
What has been done? activity habits, levels of energy, social Extension teams that were part of the
In 2000 the Health and Human interaction, and satisfaction with their Family and Consumer Science Healthy
Services Committee (HHSC) of Green community. The miles logged by teams Lifestyle initiative in 6 counties: 355
Valley Community Coordinating are collected by team captains each individuals reported 23,287 miles
Council (GVCCC) formulated a set of week and recorded on Arizona maps walked as of December 31, 2002.
visions for a healthy Green Valley based posted at various places around the “I enjoy being part of a team because
upon a 1998 needs assessment. One community, so everyone can see the it keeps me accountable. Our captain
specific vision was to “Promote a progress. Participants pay a $5.00 constantly motivates us, which makes
Healthy Lifestyle” among residents of registration fee for cost recovery of the program fun. I have more energy
the community. A forum was held as materials and program incentives. than I did at the start of the program
part of the HHSC community meetings Additional sponsorship from and I plan on continuing even after
to focus on how to implement the vision community agencies and businesses Walk Across Arizona ends!”
of a healthy lifestyle. Task members were sought to provide extra incentives –participant
Funding
Cooperative Extension - Community Health Advancement Partnership,
Participant fees
20 Community collaborators/sponsors
Contact
Linda Block, assistant agent
Pima County Cooperative Extension
The University of Arizona
4210 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719-1109
Tel.: (520) 626-5161, FAX (520) 626-5849
lblock@ag.arizona.edu
The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences