BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has received $320,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) to expand the Aging Well program, an initiative by Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (App Well) housed in App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) that aims to equip older adults to successfully navigate the aging process.
“As we identify additional community needs, Blue Cross NC’s generous support will help us significantly expand our services and meet those needs in innovative ways, improving the quality of life for aging adults and caregivers in Northwest North Carolina and the Catawba Valley.”
Dr. Marie Huff, dean of App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences
The Blue Cross NC funding creates resources to grow the existing program in the High Country and extend the program’s reach to the Greater Hickory area, with services mirroring those available in Boone.
“The impact the Aging Well program has had on our region has been phenomenal,” said Dr. Marie Huff, dean of Beaver College. “As we identify additional community needs, Blue Cross NC’s generous support will help us significantly expand our services and meet those needs in innovative ways, improving the quality of life for aging adults and caregivers in Northwest North Carolina and the Catawba Valley.”
Supporting and empowering aging adults
As a community outreach initiative, the Aging Well program provides aging screenings that include gait and grip, cognitive, balance and nutritional assessments. Screenings are available by appointment at Levine Hall on the Boone campus and on the first floor of the App State Hickory campus building.
In addition, both locations host educational programming on topics of interest to older adults, including fall prevention, improving cognitive health, online safety, selecting a care facility and advanced directives.
This program is available to aging adults, caregivers and other individuals interested in learning more about healthy aging. Many of the services offered are free or low cost for participants.
“At Blue Cross NC, we know that helping older North Carolinians live their healthiest, most fulfilling lives means taking a comprehensive approach,” said Dr. Marcus Wallace, chief medical officer at Blue Cross NC. “As our population ages, programs like Aging Well provide the care, education and connection to help older North Carolinians remain healthy and happy in their communities.”
New program participants first meet with a social worker and student trainees for a series of screenings. Based on these results, participants may receive follow-up appointments and referrals for additional assessments, as well as educational services and support. The investment by Blue Cross NC will allow Aging Well clinical staff to increase the number of follow-up assessments conducted in-house, rather than referring participants to off-site clinics and practitioners.
The program offers ongoing education and preventative practices through the Aging Academy. These year-round group classes and programming feature a variety of relevant topics, such as courses in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention. Expanding the program will make it possible to increase the variety and availability of interventional programming, including nutritional counseling and support, chronic disease management, and individual behavioral health counseling and support groups.
“There is an increasingly critical need for age-specific services for the growing number of older adults in our community,” said Dr. Gavin Colquitt, Beaver College professor and executive director of App Well. “The generosity of Blue Cross NC is allowing us to creatively address needs across our region, expand our Aging Well services to the Hickory area and continue our mission of training the next generation of health care practitioners.”
The program also plans to initiate a Dementia Caregiver Support series — offered two to three times per year — to support individuals caring for older adults experiencing cognitive decline, and will host a comprehensive annual conference on aging in spring 2024 to bring together older adults, health care providers and researchers.
Additionally, expanding the Aging Well program and its services will create additional opportunities for students in the Beaver College of Health Sciences to work within the program and gain hands-on clinical experience.
For more information about Aging Well programs and contact information for appointments, visit appwell.appstate.edu/agingwell.
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Investing in regional health care
App State’s Aging Well program, in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, provides resources and services to help aging adults — and their caregivers — navigate the aging process. During the 2022–23 year:
- 51 people completed a comprehensive aging assessment.
- 350 people participated in Tai Chi and A Matter of Balance classes.
- 273 people received hearing evaluations.
Equipping future health care professionals
Each year, the Aging Well program provides opportunities for students to gain experience working in the university’s interprofessional clinics.
In 2022–23, the program included:
- 2 graduate assistants in nutrition.
- 1 graduate assistant in nutrition and public health.
- 1 graduate assistant in social work.
- 2 graduate interns in social work.
- 4 undergraduate interns in social work.
- 2 graduate assistants in speech-language pathology.
- 1 intern in health care management.
- 2 student assistants in the fall prevention outreach program.
Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian's Beaver College of Health Sciences opened in 2010 as the result of a strategic university commitment to significantly enhance the health and quality of life for individuals, families and communities in North Carolina and beyond. In 2015, the college was named for an Appalachian alumnus and pioneer in the health care industry — Donald C. Beaver ’62 ’64 of Conover. The college offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized into six departments: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Health and Exercise Science; Nursing; Nutrition and Health Care Management; Recreation Management and Physical Education; and Social Work.
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Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness
The Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (App Well) connects Appalachian State University to the community by supporting health and wellness research, interprofessional clinics and community outreach programs. The institute partners with the community to better prepare students to become exceptional practitioners who will continue to address health issues and disparities throughout the region and beyond.
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Aging Academy Educational Series
The Aging Academy Educational Series offers speakers and workshops to share a variety of topics in an engaging and interactive format with our community. Learn about healthy aging and wellness from experts at App State and in the community.
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About the Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. BCHS offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.
About University Advancement
Appalachian State University’s Division of University Advancement supports and encourages the university’s mission by engaging alumni, friends and the greater community. University Advancement staff help connect these constituents with Appalachian through one-on-one contact and special programming, thereby securing the resources necessary to create the best possible learning environment for Appalachian students and to positively impact the community, region and state. The division incorporates the offices of Alumni Affairs, Development and the Appalachian State University Foundation Inc. Learn more at http://give.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Blue Cross NC, the leading not-for-profit health plan in North Carolina, is committed to making health care more affordable, easier to navigate and accessible for all. Since 1933, the health insurer has created programs and initiatives to provide North Carolinians the opportunity to be healthy. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bluecrossnc.com.
