Chair Lifts Now Available for Disabled and Elderly at the YMCA Pool
Broome County Health Department Steps to a HealthierNY and the Broome County YMCA celebrate the installation of two grant funded pool chair lifts.
BINGHAMTON, NY - The Broome County Health Department Steps to a HealthierNY program and the Broome County YMCA will co-host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of two new pool chair lifts. The ceremony will take place at the Binghamton YMCA located at 61 Susquehanna Street at 10 a.m. on August 19.
The Broome County Steps to a HealthierNY program aims to reduce the burden of obesity, diabetes and asthma through community based intervention strategies. One of its methods is through various collaborative partnerships with organizations that enhance a person's ability to engage in physical activity, make better nutritional choices, and eliminate tobacco use. The Broome County YMCA is a premiere partner in advancing these goals.
In order to enhance the physical activity options for the disabled and elderly residents of Broome County at the "Y", the Broome County Steps HealthierNY program and the Broome County YMCA collaboratively wrote and submitted a grant to Steps to a Healthier USA and Y-USA initiative for the funding of two pool chair lifts, which they were awarded funding for. The pool chair lifts have been installed at the YMCA in Binghamton and the West YMCA in Johnson City.
Poor diet and inadequate physical activity are the second leading cause of death in the United States and together account for at least 300,000 deaths annually. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. "The disabled residents of Broome County are not an exception to these risk factors; and many are even at higher risk for developing chronic diseases," stated Claudia Edwards, Public Health Director for the Broome County Health Department. "The Steps initiative is charged with helping all of our priority populations here in Broome County, especially the elderly and disabled populations who can substantially benefit from more education and support," Edwards said.
To learn more about the Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY program and how your school can participate in its programs contact Mary McFadden by phone at 607.778.3929 or e-mail at mmcfadden@co.broome.ny.us.
Steps to a HealthierNY is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of Steps to a HealthierUS, a national program focusing on the prevention of diabetes, obesity and asthma and addressing related risk factors-poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information about Steps to a HealthierNY in Broome County, please visit www.gobroomecounty.com or call 607.778.3929.
Steps to a HealthierUS Cooperative Agreement is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) program advancing the HealthierUS goal to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. Through funding of community-based interventions, this program aims to reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and asthma, and address three related risk behaviors-poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information, please visit www.healthierus.gov/steps.
CONTACT:
Mary McFadden, Supervising Public Health Educator
Broome County Health Department: 607.778.3929
email: mmcfadden@co.broome.ny.us
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