WIHA Update | Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging | | WIHA’s Continued Advocacy for Healthy Aging – and How You Can Help | |
For the past several years, WIHA has worked hard to secure funding for falls prevention and healthy aging through the Wisconsin state budget. These funds would provide a clear, stable, and sustainable way to ensure Wisconsin invests in keeping older adults safe and independent. Reliable state funding would allow WIHA to build long-term capacity, expand proven programs, and ensure that communities across Wisconsin have consistent access to resources that reduce falls and improve health outcomes.
We are now actively advocating for AB410/SB410, a bill that would provide dedicated funds to WIHA to coordinate statewide Healthy Aging Grants. The passage of this bill would be a significant step forward for Wisconsin. It would strengthen our collective ability to continue and expand evidence-based health promotion programs across the state, saving millions of dollars each year in healthcare costs. See our By-The-Numbers Report for cost-savings by program.
Importantly, AB410/SB410 would also focus resources on statewide falls prevention efforts by sustaining the Falls Free® Wisconsin Initiative and providing funding for local communities’ falls prevention efforts through yearly grant offerings to partners like you across the state. This means expanded falls prevention programming and the development of new and innovative falls prevention services. Together, our community collaborations will work to reduce falls, which will in turn preserve community safety resources, save health care costs, decrease nursing home admissions, and increase the quality of life of all people as we age.
Here’s how you can help: Contact your legislators and let them know how important falls prevention and healthy aging are to you, along with your support of AB410/SB410. By lending your voice, you can help Wisconsin take a major step forward in protecting our health, safety, and independence as we age. Together, we can make healthy aging a statewide priority.
| AARP Wisconsin's 2025 Advocacy Summit | |
AARP is hosting a two-day event to bring together older adults, advocates, and community partners to:
- Learn how to effectively advocate for change
- Connect with others who are passionate about making Wisconsin a better place for people of all ages
- Take action in the halls of the State Capitol
This year's focus includues:
- Healthy Aging Grant/Falls Prevention Legislation ***This is statewide funding that will be routed through WIHA for falls prevention efforts across the state***
- Protecting consumers from rising crypto kiosk scams
Dates: November 5-6, 2025
Location: Madison, WI
Meals will be provided. AARP is offering to cover the cost of hotel rooms for AARP volunteers.
| Chronic Disease Self-Management | |
Tool Kit Workshops Now Available in Flexible Formats
This applies to the following programs: Living Well with Chronic Conditions, Tomando Control de su Salud, Healthy Living with Diabetes, Vivir Saludable con Diabetes, and Healthy Living with Chronic Pain.
Previously, the Tool Kit workshops were only available to be offered over the phone. Now, this has been expanded to delivery in-person and virtually.
What that means for you:
- Smaller groups (4-6 participants are required for the Tool Kits. Groups with 8+ must do the standard workshops).
- Shorter workshops (the Tool Kit delivery is 60 minutes each session vs 2.5 hours for the standard workshops).
- Single facilitator (only 1 facilitator is required for the Tool Kit versus 2 for the standard workshops).
Other things to note:
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All participants must receive the complete Tool Kit for the specific workshop. (See Bull Publishing site for pricing and to order).
- Everyone in the group must participate using the same format (telephone, in-person, or virtual). Hybrid workshops are not allowed.
- Additional data collection will be required by the program developers.
These flexible delivery options make it easier than ever to support individuals in managing chronic conditions.
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Printed Charts for Chronic Disease Workshops Available Starting January 1, 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, participants may request printed copies of the charts used in the chronic condition workshops. If requested, organizations may print and distribute the charts (this was previously not allowed by the program developers).
Workshop facilitators must continue using the large charts during in-person sessions.
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Join us for a webinar on November 5th to discuss how to recruit and retain Peer Facilitators for your Stepping On program.
Peer Facilitators are a great way to grow and sustain your program!
| Remaining 2025 Facilitator Trainings | |
Spots still available in the following 2025 facilitator trainings:
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Healthy Living with Chronic Pain CROSS Training (Nov 12)
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Pisando Fuerte CROSS Training (Nov 19) - for bilingual individuals already trained in Stepping On
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Stand Up for Your Health (Nov 20-21)
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Stepping On (Dec 2-4)
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Updated Diabetes Self-Care Guide
The updated Diabetes Self-Care Guide from the Department of Health Services is now available for free download in English, Spanish, and Hmong. This easy-to-use guide is designed to help people with diabetes take control of their health. It complements other diabetes education materials and includes the latest recommendations on immunizations, blood pressure goals, and more. New in this edition: information on continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps, tips on sleep, mental health, and overall wellness.
Download and share the guide with your networks and others who may benefit!
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Missed office hours? Watch the recording!
We want to hear from YOU! Please respond to the two questions below to guide our planning for 2026.
| | On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, how useful do you find WIHA Office Hours? | | | Which of the following options works best for 2026 Office Hours? All will be the SECOND week of every THIRD month for 1 hour. | Thank you for your input! | 2026 Facilitator Training Schedule | Due to be released by end of October. Don't forget to budget now for 2026! See prices & training information here: | View the flyers below - download and share a version that works for you to promote these webinars in your community! | TIP: Hold a watch party in your community! It's a great way to share the information being presented, while also increasing social connection. | |
The Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE) located at the UW-Madison School of Nursing is offering two free training opportunities for direct care workers and health educators who work in care settings with older adults. The training, called CARE U, will be held at Madison College’s Truax Campus, Health Education Building.
CARE U Workshop
December 9, 2025
Designed for people who provide direct care to older adults, including CNAs, personal care workers, and family caregivers. Topics include person-centered care, mobility, nutrition, dementia, pain, vision, and emergency preparedness.
CARE U Train-the-Trainer
December 2 and 9, 2025
Designed for those who provide health education or professional development to direct care workers who support older adults. It will prepare them to lead workshops on seven topics key to older adult health.
>Register to attend a workshop.
>Apply to become a CARE U trainer.
Lunch is provided during trainings.
| Please contact Paula Bizot at pbizot@wisc.edu or 608-263-5268, if you have questions. | | |
Congratulations to our LEAF Mini-Grantees! We’re thrilled to recognize these outstanding organizations leading the way in falls prevention. The Localizing Efforts to Address Falls (LEAF) mini-grant program is part of a statewide strategy to reduce falls among older adults and support local falls prevention efforts throughout the state.
A brief description of the 2025 LEAF mini-grantee projects can be found below:
· ADRC of Brown County – Delivering pharmacist-led education, personalized medication reviews, and developing an educational video.
· Safe Communities’ Falls Free Dane Coalition – Expanding the Balance Stamp of Approval toolkit to rural and underserved areas in Dane County, while creating a model for communities statewide (and beyond!).
· Menomonee Falls Fire Department Mobile Integrated Health – Bringing the CDC’s STEADI framework to residents to assess risk, provide education, and connect people with local resources.
· Rebuilding Together Fox Valley – Launching an awareness campaign to highlight their falls prevention efforts and free home modifications for income-qualified homeowners.
· Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency – Promoting and implementing the Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) program across Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas counties.
Thank you to each of these partners for your innovation, dedication, and commitment to keeping Wisconsin communities safe and falls free!
If you are interested in participating on the Falls Free Wisconsin Coalition, contact suzanne.morley@wihealthyaging.org.
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Social Connection Awareness Week will be celebrated this year November 9– 15. This year’s theme is: From Neighbors to Networks – Connection Happens Here. Ready-to-use promotional resources are now available! Check out the resources at ConnectWI.org/events, including:
· Letter to the editor
· Newsletter article
· Press release
· Social media schedule & graphics
· BINGO card activity - for professionals & consumers
And join us as we kick off Social Connection Awareness Week with an inspiring webinar on Monday, November 10th as part of our Age Well Series. Don’t miss this chance to start the week with fresh ideas and meaningful conversation.
| | Thank You, 2025 Sponsors! | | Have a colleague who would benefit from receiving information from WIHA? Let them know to sign up for WIHA news. | | | | |
