The Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area (AAACAP) — a CAPCOG division — and the Dallas Area Agency on Aging held a joint online training in mid-January to teach more volunteers how to lead virtual versions of the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Diseases health and wellness program for older adults. The program helps older adults manage symptoms of chronic diseases by discussing the skills needed for day-to-day treatment management and to either maintain or increase activity.
To certify volunteer leaders for the program’s updated version, it takes two master trainers who have received their virtual course certification and have taught the program online to older adults — such trainers are in short supply. “Thanks to the increased access of virtual training, CAPCOG and other agencies outside of the region can now partner by sharing personnel and resources,” said Jessica Martone, the AAACAP health, wellness and prevention coordinator. “Those partnerships have allowed us to make training more convenient for would-be volunteers and ultimately allows us to expand our programs locally.” Twelve new volunteers for the two areas participated in the January training. Without it, CAPCOG and Dallas may have waited months for additional staff to receive their master trainer certificate before educating the volunteers.
CAPCOG has scheduled two virtual chronic disease programs because of the leader training. Its health and wellness program is continuing to explore additional partnerships to increase program capacity in the region.
