Moms Meals pilot improves health outcomes for diabetic members with nutritious meals

Author

United Healthcare- Glenn Quinn

Posted on

Jul 28, 2023

Book/Edition

Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties

Share This

More than 37.3 million people, or 11.3% of the population, are living with diabetes, making it an epidemic in the United States. In Nevada alone, 11.5% of the population is diagnosed with diabetes.

Recognizing this pressing health concern, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), a UnitedHealthcare company, worked with Mom’s Meals® to provide fully prepared, diabetes friendly, home-delivered meals to diabetic Medicaid members, as part of a 12-week pilot program. 

Good nutrition and improved access to diabetic friendly options can help reduce A1c levels (a measure of average blood glucose levels over the last three months) and therefore, help control diabetes.

Targeting type 2 diabetes, HPN was able to support 125 eligible Medicaid members who participated in the pilot program. The program included:

  • 12 weeks of educational disease management counseling with a registered nurse (RN) specializing in diabetes
  • 8 weeks of diabetes friendly meals from Mom’s Meals

The results exceeded expectations.

“On average, (HPN) Medicaid members who participated in the pilot program with Mom’s Meals saw a decrease in their A1c of 1.9 points,” said Kelly Simonson, CEO of HPN Medicaid.

Subsequently, the program also saw the following results:

  • 32% decrease in total cost of care
  • 82% decrease in acute inpatient costs
  • Overall increase in diabetes management program engagement

Following the success of the pilot phase, HPN and Mom’s Meals expanded its program to include adult Medicaid members affected by type 1 diabetes.

Isabella Brawer has dealt with the effects of type 2 diabetes ever since she can remember. Isabella is HPN member and participated this pilot program in 2022. This program helped ease her stress of living with diabetes while also improving her overall health by having access to healthy food options and consistent hands-on communication with her HPN-certified diabetes educator, Teresa Shepard.

“The best part of this program is the education I received over the course of 12 weeks,” Isabella said. “With my case manager’s guidance, the variety of food and exercise options, I noticed an improvement in my day-to-day life – I wasn’t tired at work and my health was in a better place overall. This program improved my life in more ways than one.”

Isabella said she enjoyed the variety of meals the program provided, never growing bored or feeling stagnant of the options. She also noticed an increase in energy throughout her workday. Without the burden of having to plan, shop and create healthy meals, Isabella was able to focus on her diabetes self-management skills.

She plans to implement the healthy habits she learned through this program into her daily routine.

Seeing the positive effect of the program on Isabella’s life, Teresa said she is thrilled with the expansion of the program to include type 1 diabetes members.

“The success of the program is so vital for the overall health of our members because diabetes affects so many different aspects of life,” Teresa said. “The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure the member has the right tools to achieve a healthy lifestyle, which in turn improves other aspects of disease management like medical costs, program engagement and A1c levels.”

Other Articles You May Like

Millennium Physician Group Wellen Park Grand Opening

Millennium Physician Group Wellen Park Grand OpeningMillennium Physician Group is proud to announce its new flagship 13,000-square-foot location in Wellen Park with access to primary care, lab, and imaging services. The practice will open on Monday, May 20, 2024. They will host a ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 4:00 6:00 pm. Services to be offered include: Primary Care -- Patricia Daneshmand, D.O and James Pineno, M.D Same Day Appointments 7500 Square feet of imaging space        5800 square feet of medical space Full Service Advanced Imaging Imaging services -- CT, MRI, US, Mammo, X-ray, Dexa, and breast biopsy. 15 Exam rooms 5- 7 Providers  Address: 8036 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293Primary Care Phone: (941) 244-4300 Radiology Phone: (855) 674-4624Web Address: https://millenniumphysician.com/wellen-park-office About Millennium Physician Group (MPG) Founded in Port Charlotte in 2008, and now headquartered in Fort Myers, Millennium Physician Group has grown into one of the largest comprehensive primary care practices with more than 800 healthcare providers across the Southeast. Services center on primary care complemented by multi-specialty care, walk-in centers, radiology and lab services, physical therapy, telehealth, wellness programs, home health, in-patient hospital care, and much more. Nationally recognized as a leader in value-based care with consistent high levels of physician engagement, Millennium aims to deliver a genuinely connected healthcare experience for patients by providing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to healthcare and be Your Connection to a Healthier Life.

8 Reasons Active Seniors Should Dive into Swimming During Retirement

Many seniors think exercise is just a distant memory due to obstacles like pain, decreased endurance and balance. There is also the fear of injury. The fact of the matter is that water exercises get aging adults moving and active. Its a safe, comfortable, and rewarding way to live an active lifestyle once more. Here are eight ways that swimming benefits seniors and conquers their exercise concerns. So, grab your swimsuit, and lets dive into the numerous and undeniable benefits of swimming and to being an active senior!The 8 Benefits of Swimming for Active SeniorsNo Weight on Your JointsAnything you do in the water is the ultimate low-impact exercise. This means youre not exerting a jarring force on your joints. The reason is that water supports about 90% of your body weight when youre in the pool. This means you float through your exercise session with no pressure on your joints. In this relatively weightless environment, active seniors overcome painful movement caused by arthritis and other health conditions.A Healthier BrainBefore you even move a muscle, immersing yourself in water increases blood flow to your brain. The benefits of this good blood flow include improved concentration, memory, mood, and cognitive function. Studies show that for active seniors, swimming may even help repair damage from stress. It can actually forge new neural connections in the brain.A Workout for Your HeartBy swimming regularly, active seniors reap cardiovascular benefits to their long-term health. If your heart is strong, it pumps blood more efficiently for improved circulation throughout your bodyincluding the brain. The bottom line is that regular aerobic exercise, like swimming, has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.A Lift for Your MoodAlmost all the senses are involved when you swim: sight, sound, touch, and smell, and if youre not careful, sometimes taste! The rhythmic strokes and breath create a focus that soothes. The feel of water moving over your body is a sensation much like a massage. Unless its a bustling pool, the calm and quiet surroundings alleviate stress, encourage relaxation, and even spark creativity. In actuality, swimming is a form of mindfulness.Better Flexibility and Range of MotionEven the most active senior loses some range of motion as they age. But thats not a problem in the water! The buoyancy of the water allows swimmers to move their arms and legs more easily through the full range of motion. Regular swimming helps keep joints supple and improves flexibilityan essential aspect of health and well-being for older adults. For those with a limited range of motion on land, stretching in the water can even improve flexibility.Improved Muscle Strength and ToneGoing for a dip in the pool is a full-body exercise that tones every major muscle group. The natural resistance of the water helps strengthen muscles faster than any land-based exercise. If youre doing laps, different strokes focus on different muscle groups. For that reason, using a combination of strokes will get you the all-over tone you want.Reduced Risk of FallWeve already established that swimming works for all the major muscle groups. With stronger muscles overall, especially the upper body, core muscles, and leg muscles, posture and stability are improved. All of this reduces the risk of falls.Stronger, Happier BackWith gravity out of the way, active seniors dont have to worry about posture or body weight on their spines when exercising. And you dont have to be a lap swimmer to reap real benefits. Water is ideal for gentle exercise as well. It can be as simple as walking in waist-deep water. The water takes the pressure off your joints and back all while youre moving.Swimming at Jacaranda TraceWe are so certain of the health benefits of swimming. Thats why were one of the few senior living communities offering our members a pool and aquatic exercise program. Its a jewel in our community. Our active senior residents benefit from year-round lap swimming, aqua classes, and recreational swimming. Our pool area is as relaxing and social as it is healthful. We even incorporate water exercises for our members receiving physical rehabilitation because of waters gentle resistance and help with balance.

Advantages of a Not-for-Profit Senior Living Community

When looking at senior living communities for yourself or a loved one, there are many great options and many things to consider. Whether youre looking for active independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing or memory care, a key consideration is whether the community operates as a for-profit or not-for-profit senior living organization. It can make a significant difference in the quality of the residences, services, amenities, and culture. For many seniors looking into different community options, the advantages of a not-for-profit senior living community tips the scales.While both types may look similar on the surface, there are some fundamental differences between for-profit and not-for-profit senior living communities.What is a For-Profit Senior Living Community?A for-profit senior living community, like any private business, is obligated to its shareholders to earn a profit. A good number of for-profit communities belong to large national chainssome owning hundreds of properties with thousands of residences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 80 percent of senior communities are for-profit. They are either privately owned or part of a much larger chain. While they might offer quality services and amenities, their core function is to earn a profit from rent and fees.What is a Not-For-Profit Senior Living Community?By definition, a not-for-profit senior living community must reinvest any profit back into its central mission. They are also allowed to raise money from individual and corporate donors, whose gifts are tax deductible, and to apply for certain government and private grants.What are the advantages of Not-For-Profit Retirement Communities?Many of the differences between not-for-profit retirement communities and for-profit senior communities are subtle. As a resident/member of a not-for-profit community, you may simply feel better knowing that the leadership is motivated by a mission, rather than by financially satisfying owners and investors. Youll also know that your wellbeing will always come before profit.Here are a few more ways that not-for-profit senior living communities, like Jacaranda Trace, in Venice, FL, benefit members. Greater Sources of FundingThe IRS grants tax-exempt status to not-for-profit organizations because they further a cause or benefit the publicallowing them to accept donations from a wide range of sources. This funding makes it possible for a not-for-profit senior living community to keep its fees lower than it could otherwise, and even extend financial support to residents/members with hardship situations. This means that long-time members who suffer an unforeseen financial change dont have to worry about having to leave their community.The Governance of a Board of TrusteesA not-for-profit is run by a board of trustees or board of directors. Those individuals have pledged to uphold sound, ethical, and legal governanceputting the organizations mission and members wellbeing first. The board members interact with community leadership and residents/members and listen to their input. The board also works to form fruitful relationships with the local governments, businesses and other organizations. These relationships help to solidly connect their community with the community at large. Reinvestment into the Community  Emphasis on CommunityA not-for-profit senior living community can flourish into a genuine community with the boards leadership and focus on a mission. Members, staff and board members come together through their shared values. Additionally, not-for-profit organizations rarely change ownership. This is not always the case among for-profits. For-profits are often forced into exit strategies or recapitalizations to satisfy shareholders interests.Why Choose the Jacaranda Trace Not-For-Profit Senior Living Community?We are a not-for-profit community because we want to fully serve our members and our community. At Jacaranda Trace, our aim is to be the senior living community of choice for seniors who want to spend their lives in an intellectually, physically, and spiritually rich environment. To learn more about life at Jacaranda Trace, or to schedule a personal visit, call 941-841-0946 or Click Here.

Local Services By This Author

United Healthcare- Glenn Quinn

Medicare Insurance 5208 65th Terrace East, Ellenton, Florida, 34222

Hello! It's great to meet you. It sounds like you're dedicated to providing personalized assistance in finding the right UnitedHealthcare plan for each individual. Your local expertise and deep knowledge of available plans make you a valuable resource for anyone seeking healthcare coverage in the area.Your background as a United States Navy veteran and your involvement in community organizations like Meals on Wheels and Bethlehem Baptist Church demonstrate your commitment to serving others, both in your professional and personal life.I appreciate your dedication to helping others navigate their healthcare options and make informed decisions about their coverage. If I can assist you in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out.