Bridging Elder Care Networks (BECN)

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Life: Act 2, a community collaboration led by United Way of Northeast Florida, received a four-year $750,000 grant in May 2006 from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its Community Partnerships for Older Adults (CPOA) national program. Through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, Life: Act 2 will develop plans over the next four years for improving long term care and supportive services systems that respond to the current and future needs of at-risk First Coast older adults. This particular Life: Act 2 group, Bridging Elder Care Networks, is led by Becky Gay of Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

To achieve a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the most prestigious health care philanthropic foundation in the United States, is an incredible feat for the community. Life: Act 2 was one of only eleven communities - ranging from rural to urban - selected from a field of 486 applicants to receive the initial development grants. As they competed for this implementation grant, they were one of only eight grantees across the country to receive this four-year funding commitment.

This grant was made possible through the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. BCBS has been a supporter of Life: Act 2 from its inception and actually provided the early development funding for the work with seniors. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has been a pivotal partner in the efforts that strengthen and integrate systems and services for older adults. This Life: Act 2 partner has invested $250,000 toward the development of health-care related improvements and solutions for at-risk seniors.

"This is a major step toward eliminating the barriers that get in the way of seniors continuing to lead full, vital lives," Korn stated. "The forthcoming improvements will reduce seniors' frustrations in accessing both the health care and social service systems."

Over the next four years the Life: Act 2 collaboration will work around the four following goals:

1. Decrease the number of days older adults unnecessarily stay in a hospital due to the unavailability of, or ineligibility for, long-term care or independent living support services.
2. Increase the knowledge of the community as a whole, but particularly older adults and /or their caregivers, on how to access health and long-term care information and services.
3. Increase the percentage of paraprofessionals and professionals working with older adults who possess post high school education and knowledge in geriatrics and gerontology.
4. Implement hospital-specific system changes that will improve delivery of health services to older adult patients.

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