WHICOA is committed to elimination of social, economic and health disparities among racial and ethnic minority in the medically underserved communities of Washington Heights and Inwood. We seek to participate in endeavors that contribute to the improved health of the elderly population in our underserved community. We recognize the overwhelming evidence cited in the Institute of Medicine Report, 2002 on health disparities. Disparities exist even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable. Minorities are less likely than whites to receive needed services. WHICOA has 32 years of experience working with our community’s low income and medically underserved senior population and we have been at the forefront of health education and outreach efforts.

Accomplishments

1. In June, 2004 WHICOA received a $5,000.00 grant from the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (via the Office of Congressman Charles Rangel) and a $1,000.00 grant from the Dorothy Rose and Albert E. Blumberg Fund to launch a bilingual Medicare Outreach, Education and Enrollment initiative in Washington Heights & Inwood. A bilingual project coordinator was hired to ensure that informational workshops, outreach and enrollment efforts for the Medicare drug discount card would be held throughout the Washington Heights and Inwood communities, at sites that are traditional and non-traditional gathering places for elderly community residents. Key personnel from WHICOA member agencies were trained by the Medicare Rights Center. This trained staff is played a pivotal role in the needed outreach, education and enrollment efforts. There was a Train-the-Trainer workshop and a follow-up session for staff (25 people in attendance) 7 bilingual Information workshops and approximately 75 persons assessed for and/or enrolled in the Medicare drug discount program. In addition, the theme of the WHICOA 2004 Legislative Breakfast (see # 7 below) was “The New Medicare: Winners & Losers.” The event featured Congressman Charles Rangel as the keynote speaker.

2. WHICOA, the Northern Manhattan Community Voices Collaborative (NMCVC) and the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery have been able to arrange for the use of the Community Dent-Care Dental van, staffed by a dentist and a bilingual dental assistant, to visit the nine full service senior centers in Northern Manhattan during the summer months. WHICOA remains committed to this project, which screens over 250 seniors every year. In 2001-2, Columbia University dental students also provided over 275 annual dental screenings and bilingual oral health education.

3. WHICOA, along with the Isabella Geriatric Center, was a co-sponsor of the 2001 and 2004 Research Information Day events for Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) research projects with a focus on minority health research in Northern Manhattan. The health educational event featured 36 research posters and was attended by over 85 community leaders and residents from the Northern Manhattan communities of Washington Heights, Inwood and Harlem. The community had the opportunity to learn more about the latest research on diabetes, stroke, arthritis, oral disease, breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases.

4. In 2000-2001, Isabella Geriatric Center and WHICOA initiated a research project conducted by the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service of New York University. The project was part of our effort to identify needs and secure funding to develop a supportive service for a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) program for the over 300 community seniors living in the Mitchell-Lama buildings located at 11 and 17 Ft. George Hill in Washington Heights.

5. Since 1999, WHICOA and the Columbia Center for the Active Life of Minority Elders (CALME) have implemented a Community Health Education & Recruitment Lecture Series for community seniors. The lecture series is crucial in permitting NIH-funded research projects at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) the opportunity to promote bilingual community health education and enhance minority elder participation in research studies at CUMC. Since inception, over 190 community health lectures, (80% bilingual), have been held.

6. The Washington Heights and Inwood Student Project, started in 1995, is a joint venture of 5 WHICOA member community senior service agencies, in partnership with Yeshiva University, to increase services to seniors and introduce students to the field of gerontology. Since inception, the project has placed over 45 graduate social work students in small community-based organizations. WHICOA also sponsors Medical, Nursing, Physical Therapy and Dental students from Columbia University at local member senior centers. Since 2000, over 100 healthcare students have participated.

7. Since 1994, WHICOA has held an Annual Legislative Breakfast, at the Isabella Geriatric Center, featuring community leaders, community residents, community-based organizations and elected officials. The 2004 theme was “The New Medicare: Winners & Losers.” The event featured Congressman Charles Rangel as the keynote speaker.

8. In 1988, WHICOA developed a respite/activity program for Alzheimer's clients, now called Community Caregiving, with the assistance of the Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College, the New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and the Memory Disorders Clinic at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. This original two-day a week respite program now operates six-days a week as a funded bilingual social adult day program sponsored by Ft. Washington Houses Services for the Elderly and serves over 120 seniors and their families annually.

9. In 1984, WHICOA conceived and developed the Mental Health for Homebound Elderly Program operated by the Department of Psychiatry of New York Presbyterian Hospital. Program progress is shared with WHICOA.

10. The WHICOA Community Resource Directory was conceived in 1984, as a bilingual resource publication for older adults in the community. This compendium lists programs in the area serving the elderly along with useful city-wide agency and legislative contact numbers. The directory is regularly updated and distributed to thousands of local senior consumers. It is recognized as an essential tool for service providers and for those in need of information about local area supportive services. In 1992 WHICOA commissioned a Handbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers. This 62-page handbook is given out to families and caregivers attending support groups.

11. In 1983, WHICOA’s efforts led to the development of the Meals-on-Wheels program, now administered by the STAR Senior Center on behalf of the community. Case assessments are conducted by two agencies, and meals are prepared by four senior centers and Isabella Geriatric Center. Meal delivery is shared among four different organizations. This is a highly efficient system that provides 55,000 meals yearly and reaches at least 250 clients each week.

12. In 1978, WHICOA was instrumental in the development of the Washington Heights-Inwood Services and Transportation program (WHIST), which is coordinated by ARC XVI Fort Washington on behalf of the community. WHIST transportation services for the elderly provided 30,000 one-way trips per year, serving 600 clients from the community annually. These clients go to medical appointments, senior centers, social adult day programs, shopping, recreational, banking, and to cast their election ballots. The majority of senior service providers refer their clients with transportation needs to this service.