Spectrum Generations, central Maine’s Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center, in collaboration with SeniorsPlus, western Maine’s AAA and ADRC, was one of four from a diverse group of organizations to be awarded the Community Health Worker Pilot Project Grant through the Maine Centers for Disease Control.

The Affordable Care Act recognizes community health workers as integral members of the health care workforce who contribute to an improved care experience, better health and reduced health care costs – all part of what is known as the Triple Aim.

Spectrum Generations’ focus will be to improve care for high-risk, disabled and caregiving adults in northern Kennebec and Somerset counties, while SeniorsPlus will provide CHW services in Franklin and Oxford counties.

Both agencies will help clients who have chronic conditions by reducing the need for high cost interventions and link clients to patient-centered medical home care, promote wellness, medication adherence and self-management through group and individual interventions and education.

Spectrum Generations community health workers will serve as a bridge between the community and healthcare, government and social service systems.

The pilot project will integrate best practices to help address chronic disease management, increase preventive screenings, improve patient experiences and promote appropriate use of healthcare resources.

Gerard Queally, CEO, Spectrum Generations, said, “We believe our involvement in the creation of CHWs for older and disabled clients will allow us to be more proactive rather than reactive with Maine citizens engaging them throughout the continuum of health care utilization. It is our hope that the at the end of the pilot project that we will see better health outcomes and reduce costs in the healthcare for the clients who we are serving.”

For more information, call 1-800-639-1553 or visit www.spectrumgenerations.org.