Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Community Rehab Project a Community Health Award of $2,500 to support their Aging In Place program. This program provides services and equipment to support independent living for older adults and individuals with disability through therapy, wellness, fall prevention, and home modification.

“These approaches make a huge impact on a person with disability or an older adults’ ability to remain independent in their home,” explained Community Rehab Project Executive Director Ginger Oliver, PT. Individuals are assessed for balance and fall risk and provided an evidence-based exercise program proven to reduce fall risk in older populations. Durable medical equipment such as shower seats, handheld shower hoses, raised toilet seats and other items are provided to at-risk individuals, along with basic home modifications to increase safety.

“Railings, grab bars and ramps can mean the difference between living independently or nursing home placement,” stated Oliver. “This low-cost program integrates healthcare workers and a licensed handyman who work with individual seniors—particularly low-income urban men and women of color—to keep them at home, functional and safe.”

The mission of the Community Rehab Project is to positively impact the lives of people with disability locally, nationally and globally. They aim to fill the gap for those in need of rehabilitation, health and wellness. Their goal is to promote independent living of community members so they can thrive in their homes and in their communities.

 

Through a competitive application process, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards help fund programs that improve the health or health care of a specific population, programs that aim to improve the health status of the community, closes the gaps in health disparities, reduces the incidence of specific diseases, promotes health education and assists our communities in dealing with COVID.

 

“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve Van de Wal, Utica regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to enhance quality of life, including health status, in upstate New York.”

 

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is committed to supporting local organizations that improve community health. The company’s corporate giving follows all applicable laws and regulations and does not support funding organizations that conflict with its corporate mission, goals, policies or products.

 

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Utica region encompasses Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence counties.

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