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BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a primary contributor to decreasing functional physical fitness and increasing chronic disease in older adults. PurposeThis study assessed the health-related benefits of ExerStart for Lay Leaders, a 20-week, community based, peer-led, low-impact exercise program for older adults. ExerStart focuses on aerobic endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and balance. MethodsUsing a pre/posttest evaluation design, researchers examined the effects of the program on 432 older adults in St. Louis, Missouri, and Houston, Texas. Participants completed self-report surveys as well as observed functional physical fitness assessments. ResultsParticipants in ExerStart for Lay Leaders significantly improved their perceived satisfaction with body function, functional physical fitness, perceived overall health, and body mass index. DiscussionThis study adds to the evidence that older adults benefit from structured, peer-led exercise programs. The increased physical fitness, if maintained, may lead to a decrease in falls, adult obesity, and nursing home placements. Translation to Health Education PracticeThe current research has important implications for implementing outcome-based and cost-effective health education programs for older adults, including using peer leaders as a cost reduction technique to implement and disseminate research informed programs into community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses community health centers (CHC) as the ideal facility for the scalable operationalizing of sentinel surveillance of human trafficking in the U.S. Topics covered include theoretical and practical characteristics and limitations of sentinel surveillance, patient population serviced in CHCs, and developments in data collection infrastructure.

Community health partnerships have increased in popularity, but their effectiveness is often not evaluated. Through secondary data analysis, this study evaluates a program that offered access to legal services to address health-related issues, such as Medicaid reimbursement, Social Security benefits, medication coverage, and divorce. Based on the analysis reimbursements to expenditures, the health and law program appears to be cost-effective and thereby economically sustainable. The cost-effectiveness of this program increases the likelihood that it will be institutionalized and/or expanded. This program evaluation is used to exemplify how community stakeholders could partner to leverage resources to establish a sustainable community health and law program to address the needs of people living in medically underserved areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]