The New York State township of Cheektowaga—whose name comes from the Erie-Seneca Indian word, Ji-ik-do-wah-gah, or “place of the crab apple tree”—is home to the Cheektowaga Senior Center and hosted NCOA’s latest “Better Bone Health” education program in September 2024.

Originally designed as a free community education event for 20 to 50 participants, the senior center at Cheektowaga surpassed that number by drawing in 84 attendees: one of the largest groups in a series of similar events held at senior centers in Florida, Maryland, and Vermont since 2022. Thanks to a combination of in-house promotion (the senior center bulletin and email distribution lists) and paid advertising in local print media outlets (Forever Young magazine and the Cheektowaga Bee newspaper), the Cheektowaga audience came to learn about a very important topic: osteoporosis.

Why do we need bone health education?

Osteoporosis has been defined as the silent disease of the 21st century, becoming a public health risk due to its severity and progression and affecting mainly postmenopausal women and older adults.¹ It is “silent” because one does not feel symptoms until a bone breaks; experiences a loss in height; or notices that their upper back is curving forward.²

As local community expert, endocrinologist Erlin J. Marte, noted in his talk about osteoporosis at Cheektowaga, “The suffering from osteoporosis stems from a higher risk of fractures due to low bone mass…the risk of vertebral and hip fracture is expected to double in the USA by 2050.”

Screening older adults for osteoporosis is key to catching it early and preventing bone fractures. Strategies to help people eat healthy and get physical activity can help prevent osteoporosis.³ These are topics addressed at every bone health education event NCOA has hosted in partnership with senior centers.

Senior centers as learning hubs

Senior centers are vital community focal points that provide a range of programs, services, and opportunities to support older adults’ well-being—including social services, transportation, recreation, socialization, nutrition, and wellness programs in a highly social setting. They are ideal venues to conduct NCOA’s Better Bone Health education program because not only does the latter dovetail nicely with current health promotion programming senior centers may already have, but the target audiences (older adults aged 50+ with a history of broken bones/fractures and/or postmenopause) are also likely to attend and participate in the interactive learning format.

The first 45 minutes of each bone health education event typically include a slide presentation from a local medical professional, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session, and finally a 30-minute discussion led by a senior center staff facilitator using the NCOA-created Better Bone Health: A Discussion Guide. Participants follow along with their own version of the guide, which prompts them to develop personal action goals such as:

• I will identify my risk factors for osteoporosis.
• I will talk with my doctor about my bone health, osteoporosis, and getting a DXA scan (bone density test).
• I will make sure that my diet includes calcium and vitamin D-rich foods.
• I will incorporate regular weight-bearing and balance exercises.

What is the impact of the Better Bone Health Education Program?

Participants of every bone health education event are given a two-week “action window” to implement their personal goals before being invited by NCOA to participate in a follow-up survey that evaluates overall satisfaction with the program as well as any concrete steps taken to improve their bone health. Over 290 older adults have participated across four states to date. While the results from New York (Cheektowaga) are still pending, here are the highlights coming from Florida, Maryland, and Vermont, combined:

• 91% found the discussion guide useful.
• 61% have used the lecture’s resources.
• 46% have either visited their doctor or made an appointment.
• 93% Have talked to others about bone health.
• 60% of all participants are interested in learning more about bone health and how to improve

People with lived experience of osteoporosis have also volunteered to share their own journey. For example, Alvina Zielinski from Cheektowaga said she had a repeat DXA scan done a week after she attended the bone health event. Her results showed that she still has osteoporosis, but her current score reflects improved bone density compared to her first test conducted in 2016 when she was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis.

Zielinski's doctor initially prescribed a medication, but she developed an adverse reaction to it. Although she does not currently take medicines for osteoporosis, she has focused on preventing fractures by incorporating physical activity into her daily routine such as: walking and water aerobics; eating a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and dairy; and taking supplements that include calcium.

When asked if she would consider talking to her doctor again about medications after listening to Marte describe a variety of other options, she replied, “I would give it a shot if I can be higher than a -3.* Yes, it would be wonderful.” (*T-scores from DXA scans ranging from -2.5 to -4.0 indicate the presence of osteoporosis. Normal bone density T-scores range from -1.0 to +1.0 and higher.)

Even Cheektowaga Senior Center Director Kerry Peek, who facilitated the discussion following Marte’s presentation, has taken action. “On a personal note, I asked my doc for a script to go have a bone density test done for myself!!!”

National Bone and Joint Health Action Week is Oct. 12-20. Check out what you can do for your bone health using NCOA’s bone health and falls prevention resources.

Sources

1. Aibar-Almazán, Agustín, et al. Current Status of the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. August 2022. Found on the internet at https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169465

2. Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. What is osteoporosis and what causes it? Found on the internet at https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/

3. Healthy People 2030. Osteoporosis. Found on the internet at https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/osteoporosis