NHLBI, Hearts N' Parks Program - 2003 Magnet Center Sites

Main 2003 Map >
2003 Magnet Center Sites

Bloomington, IN—Adult Programs

Description

The Active Adult program targeted senior adults in existing fitness classes, mall walking, and volleyball groups. The program focused on heart-healthy eating, blood pressure, and cholesterol, as well as physical activity. A kick off breakfast was held to explain the program. Staff from local hospitals provided lectures on health topics such as heart-healthy eating, signs and symptoms of heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke. Staff also checked participants’ blood pressure. A closing Celebration of Champions luncheon was held at the end of the program. The Employees' Survivor program also focused on heart-healthy eating, blood pressure, cholesterol, and physical activity. Participants from several city departments attended classes on these topics two times per month. Each month, employees also competed in team fitness activities such as an obstacle course, a one-mile walk, and a basketball contest. In addition, teams were awarded points for keeping daily activity logs. While the winning team was awarded healthy eating cookbooks, all participants received colorful Hearts N’ Parks T-shirts. Plans for 2004 include a city versus county employee survivor challenge.

Program Information

Name of program	City of Bloomington Employees' Survivor Challenge	Hearts N' Parks for the Active Adult
Program start and end date	7/9/2003 to 10/10/2003	10/6/2003 to 11/3/2003
Number of times program met per week	1	1
Number of participants (total)	17	10
Number of male participants	2	N/A
Number of female participants	15	N/A
Target group	Adult	Adult
Program focus
Physical Activity
Heart-Healthy Eating
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Location of activities
Classes	-
Fitness center	-	-
Senior center	-
Other		-
Materials used
Information Handout
Lesson		-
Activity
Menus
Other	-	-

Public Visibility

Internal efforts to promote Hearts N' Parks programs:

Bulletin board or information racks
Newsletter or brochure
Posters in buildings
Employee kickoff

External efforts to promote Hearts N' Parks programs:

Media Coverage: Print

Special Event(s): N/A
Number of presentations: N/A

Other: Display table at trail grand opening ceremony and fall special event.

Partners

Partners who contributed to adult programs:

Partner Name	Partner Contribution
Monroe County Health Department	Provided health presentation.
Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare Services	Conducted blood pressure checks. Hospital dietitian presented information on heart-healthy nutrition.
Southeastern Indiana Health Organization	Conducted blood pressure screenings and presented information on signs and symptoms of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and high blood cholesterol.
Employee Counseling of Indiana	Provided presentation on fitness and nutrition.

Performance Measures

City of Bloomington Employees' Survivor Challenge
Participants in this employee program showed significant improvement in overweight/obesity knowledge and heart-healthy eating attitude. Moderate improvements were made in heart-healthy eating knowledge, physical activity level, physical activity attitude, high blood pressure knowledge, and SIT score.

Hearts N' Parks for the Active Adult
Participant scores showed improvement in heart-healthy eating knowledge, attitude, and behavior; overweight/obesity knowledge; physical activity level, attitude, and knowledge; cholesterol knowledge; and SIT score.