Community Health

Community Health is the effort to strengthen the linkages between traditional healthcare and community based prevention strategies in order to help individuals prevent, delay, or live better with chronic conditions.

Community Health: 

  • Increases access to care
  • Lowers cost
  • Prevents and addresses chronic disease
  • Reduces the effects of some social determinants of health

Have you or a loved once recently been diagnosed with a chronic disease such as cancer or Parkinson’s? Your local YMCA is here to walk you through the steps it takes to combat the disease you may be facing. See below for the programs that are currently being offered that best suits you and your current needs.

Chronic disease – such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes – are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans. Treatment for individuals accounts for more than 75% of the $2.5 trillion spent on annual medical care costs in the U.S.

Employers in the U.S. spend an average of $1,685 per employee per year for indirect healthcare costs such as absenteeism, disability, and reduced work output.

Investing in employees health has shown to decrease healthcare expenditures and absenteeism and increase work productivity. The Foothills Area YMCA is here to assist you in bettering the health of your employees!

Contact Halie Patterson at [email protected] to learn more on how to save money by investing in your employees health.

Improving patient outcomes just go easier with the help of the YMCA’s Community Health Programs. Referring patients to the YMCA for exercise, lifestyle change, or chronic disease prevention/management can be critical for the patients quality of life. 

For more information, see below for some of our program offerings or contact Halie Patterson at [email protected]

Current Community Health Programs:

For more information on these programs, please contact our community health programs coordinator at [email protected]

Providers: Refer your patients to the BPSM, Livestrong or Diabetes Prevention program by clicking the button below.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free 12-week exercise program for those that have had a cancer diagnosis today or 30 years ago. This program addresses survivorship and improving quality of life

  • Cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, balance, and flexibility exercises 
  • YMCA-certified instructors 
  • Gain support from other survivors in your community
  • Requires referral and medical clearance from a physician.

Rock Steady Boxing

Enables people with Parkinson’s to fight their disease through non-contact boxing style fitness classes to improve their quality of life, sense of efficacy, and self-worth. 

Fighters push beyond their perceived limitations and work on:

  1. Speed/Agility/Footwork 
  2. Strength Training 
  3. Cognitive Training 
  4. Accuracy/Hand Eye- Coordination 
  5. Balance/Mobility 
  6. Voice activation

Pedaling for Parkinson's

Riding an indoor, stationary bicycle has been shown to reduce Parkinson’s motor symptoms by as much as 35%

  • Ride an indoor, stationary bikes for 1 hour (including warm up & cool down)

Diabetes Prevention

  • A 1-year healthy lifestyle change program for people at risk for type 2 diabetes.
  • Reviews healthy eating, physical activity, reducing stress, and improving overall health through small steps!
  • Led by trained Lifestyle Coaches under the CDC’s Prevent T2 Curriculum

Exercise is Medicine

  • 12-week medically based program for adults with chronic health conditions 
  • Learn how to reduce health risks and improve overall health by adopting healthy behaviors
  • Participants must be referred by a medical provider
  • $249 – Financial assistance is available 

All participants must be referred by their physicians and complete an orientation with Sydney Lia or another Exercise is Medicine instructor before registering for the program!

Blood Pressure Self Monitoring

Designed to help adults with hypertension lower and manage their blood pressure. 

  • 4-month program 
  • Regular home self-monitoring 
  • 1-on -1 consultations for individualized support
  • Group-based nutrition education