Champion Your Health is the slogan for this year’s Older Americans Month. Even the most decorated champions may need help to reach their goals, whether it’s a trainer, a piece of equipment, or just a new affirmation to boost their confidence. This week, we’re highlighting ready-to-use tools from the NIDILRR grantee community to help older adults with disabilities take an active role in managing their health, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence. 

Managing Your Health

Managing one’s health is a journey, and it helps to have a guide to understanding the many tests and screening procedure we go through to get a baseline and track our progress toward wellness. The Health Passport can be used by people who are interested in tracking their medical information or learning about commonly assessed health risks. It also is recommended for use by service providers and others who want to educate someone about the featured tests and what they measure.

Group programs can help people aging with disabilities learn tools and techniques for managing their health. The Diabetes Prevention Group Lifestyle Balance program was adapted for people with traumatic brain injury and their care partners to gain the knowledge and skills to manage their cardiometabolic health                                    

Accessing Preventive Care

People with disabilities have the right to access preventive health care services and treatment under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws. These factsheets cover the rights of people with disabilities to access care and the responsibilities of providers under the ADA.

Making Informed Decisions

People with spinal cord injuries may want to know their risk for certain issues like falls, emergency visits, and pressure injuries. These risk calculators can help them and their care providers gauge their risks and manage their care accordingly.

Your clinician or health care provider may use instruments like the 6 Minute Walk Test or the Timed Up and Go Test as part of an exam. The Rehabilitation Measures Database includes more than 30 infographics that explain what an instrument measures, what is expected of the patient, and what scores mean.

These are just a few examples of ready-to-use resources developed by the NIDILRR grantee community. If you are looking for more resources to help you Champion Your Health, or you’re a provider who wants to support your patients’ healthy aging goals, please reach out to our information specialists!