Benefits of the Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength Program: “Talking to the other ladies, we all have problem- just being ables to talk really help.” “Talking to the other ladies, we all have problem- just being ables to talk really help.” “Talking to the other ladies, we all have problem- just being ables to talk really help.” “Talking to the other ladies, we all have problem- just being ables to talk really help.” “Talking to the other ladies, we all have problem- just being ables to talk really help.” Benefits of the Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength Program: A Qualitative Analysis Holly Pope PhD (c) MSPH, Maggi Chandlee PhD (c) MS, Robert E. McKeown PhD University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Office for the Study of Aging Results Background Discussion These results revealed that participants 1) received and provided social support within their HSMS group; 2) experienced a wide range of other benefits; and 3) helped their surrounding community by providing various types of social support. Both race groups reported positive social interaction, but only AA reported emotional, spiritual, and tangible social support. Comparatively, only Caucasian participants reported anticipated social support. Other HSMS program benefits reported by participants were improved race relations and emotional benefits. AA participants reported that they realized they had similar religious values as the Caucasian participants. A few of the Caucasian participants had a new and positive perspective on race. HSMS participants were asked to identify a need in the community and address the need as a group. As a result, they helped a variety of groups. Participants provided community groups with tangible and informational social support, although tangible support was more commonly reported. Currently in the US, one in eight Americans is older than 65. By 2030 the aging baby boom generation will increase to one out of every five Americans (Himes, 2002). The US Census Bureau (2005) reported that approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition; 50% have at least two chronic conditions; and one in five older adults have a chronic disability, many of which can be prevented. There is a pressing need for new, cost effective prevention strategies for our nation’s older adults. In the southeastern region in particular, a high proportion of older adults attend church. Because of the shared common history, values, beliefs and relationship to a higher power, faith communities can play an important role in health and well-being (Trinitapoli, 2005, Buijis & Olson, 2001). However, there is very limited research regarding congregation based health promotion programs for older adults (DeHaven et al., 2004). Cnaan et al. (2005) recommends that community professionals realize that religious congregations and leaders provide support to older adults that greatly impact recipients’ quality of life. Types of Groups HSMS Helped HSMS Participants (n=24) Children at an elementary school Children at a church Homeless individuals Shelter for abused women and children Nursing home residents Elderly community members Veterans Social Support provided within the Group AA (n= 12) Caucasian (n=12) Emotional (9) Positive Social Interaction (6) Spiritual (5) Anticipated (3) Positive Social Interaction (5)   Tangible(3) “Everyone felt each other’s pain, each other’s moments of happiness. There were things that came out during the discussions…painful events in one’s past, and the entire group did hands-on prayer for whatever the need was. The group came right in and ministered to that need when it surfaced.” Social Support provided to the Community HSMS Participants (n=24) Tangible(9) Informational (2) “One thing we did in that group was once a month we fixed care packages for the homeless. We take a Ziploc and we put [in it] shampoo and deodorant, toothpaste, combs, lotion, wash cloth, soap.” “…now we had a group that -- they didn’t mind baring their soul…I mean we talked about all problems. We talked about pregnancies and we talked about AIDS…and there’s one thing I noticed- we would listen to each person’s problem. Methods Conclusion From this study there was evidence HSMS positively impacted social support within small groups. In addition, the program also facilitated opportunities for participants to provide social support to their surrounding communities. Importantly, the religious/ spiritual and social components of the program provided common ground among a AA and Caucasian participants that led to improved attitudes about members of another race. From 2004-2008 the Hear, Soul, Mind, &Strength (HSMS) program was implemented, which emphasized spiritual, mental, physical, and social health for adults 50 years and over. African American (AA) and Caucasian United Methodist churches in South Carolina participated together in small groups. Each meeting began with a guided meditation with deep breathing and stretching to reinforce the holistic focus of the program including spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental dimensions. Physical activities combined education, motivation, and brief exercise routines, after which the group engaged in mental exercises. The second half of each session was devoted to curriculum for spiritual growth. Additional activities included a community outreach effort. In 2008, two researchers (MC and HP) interviewed 24 persons (of the 94 that completed the program) across the state of South Carolina that participated in the Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength program. Participants were African American (n=12) and Caucasian (n=12). Participants were asked questions related to their HSMS participation, relationships with individuals within the group(s), and their outreach to the community. A qualitative analysis was performed using QSR- Nvivo software. DeHaven et al. (2004) reviewed church based health promotion programs and found only 53 articles (between the years 1990- 2000) discussed an actual program, and out of those, only 6 programs targeted older adults. Therefore, there is a need to create unique programs to meet the changing needs of older adults (Cnaan, 2005) and to help offset adverse risks related to aging (White, 2006). Other Benefits from Group Participation AA (n= 12) Caucasian (n=12) Improved race relations (7) Improved race relations (10) Emotional Benefits (7) Emotional Benefits (5) Realization of similar religious values (2) Race Perspective (3) “It makes you seem a little bit closer together. You worship together and you find out that there’s only one God, and God made us all. And so if He made us all, there’s no difference. The color of our skin may be different, but a man is a man, whether he is black or white…So it don’t make no difference. And this program did help me to understand that more.” “There was one lady who was in the community that was ill, she couldn’t do anything, so we went out and did her yard to bring it up - because she used to have a real pretty yard.” Therefore, it is recommended that health professionals collaborate with faith communities more frequently to implement holistic health programs, such as HSMS. These programs can address older adults’ quality of life and make communities more caring and use program design strategies to bring cultural acceptance among diverse groups. Further research is needed to determine if the HSMS program would be as effective among various age groups, faith traditions, and ethnic populations. “[We helped] shut-ins, mostly, and carry them little things; tokens. We would make things, like casseroles, little cakes… where they can pull it out, you know, get it out feeling good, and they can pop it in the microwave.” “[HSMS] was good for me personally…I really had an eye opener in some of the churches. But it was good. And I feel very comfortable now. Up to that point, I did not feel comfortable going to funerals for some African American friends of mine. And I feel very comfortable now. I can go and sit down and I can be the salt in the pepper, and it’s very comfortable there.” Poster presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting, Gerontological Society of America