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The Community Connection at the Sealy Center on AgingStay Connected. Stay Engaged. Stay Inspired.

Welcome

At the Sealy Center on Aging, we believe that growing older should mean growing stronger, through knowledge, community, and meaningful opportunities. That’s why we created the Community Connection, a program designed to keep older adults in Galveston County informed, engaged, and empowered.

Launched in 2022, the Community Connection has more than 1,300 subscribers who receive our quarterly newsletter by email or traditional mail. Each issue is filled with valuable updates, including:

  • Spotlights on groundbreaking aging research at UTMB Health
  • Invitations to participate in clinical studies that can improve health and wellbeing for older adults everywhere
  • Local events and programs tailored to seniors in our community
  • Volunteer opportunities, such as AmeriCorps Seniors, where you can give back and stay active

Why Join?

The Community Connection is more than a newsletter! It’s a way to stay plugged into the latest discoveries, connect with people who share your interests, and find new ways to stay involved in your local community.

We're Growing, Together!

Thanks to strong community partnerships and outreach, the Community Connection is expanding every day. Whether you hear about us through a senior center, social media, or a postcard at an event, the invitation is the same: be part of a growing network of older adults shaping the future of aging in Galveston County.

  • Sign up for the Community Connection newsletter and become part of a vibrant community of older adults making a difference.
  • Follow and engage with us on Facebook, where we share news and resources as well as event announcements that are relevant to local older adults.
  • Learn more about getting involved with AmeriCorps Seniors.
  • Visit the Learning Center, now located at the Osher Long Life Institute at UTMB Health

Newsletter Archive

Current Studies

News from the Sealy Center on Aging

Improving Hurricane Preparedness for Home-Bound Patients

Nov 13, 2023, 12:59 PM by SCOA

UTMB’s Jennifer Young and Jessica den Herder were highlighted for their work to help home-bound patients prepare for hurricanes. “We realized if [our home-bound patients] were having a difficult time going to the clinic, they’re going to have a difficult time evacuating [during an emergency],” Ms den Herder told The Clinical Advisor.

With funding from the UTMB President’s Cabinet Award, a team of Nurse Practitioners from the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine-Geriatrics House Calls Program launched a project to improve awareness of resources for emergency planning and distribution of essential emergency supplies. 

Through their efforts, the registration of home-bound older patients for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) increased by 227% over a 5-month period.

Education focused on planning for both evacuations and sheltering-in-place; planning supply kits; and identifying emergency contacts, medication lists, medical equipment needs, and necessary identification band information. Sample hurricane emergency kits were provided.

Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Young received the Excellence in Community Service National Award from the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) of America as a result of this work.

Read more at ClinicalAdvisor.com.

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