Helping folks increase their knowledge about medical care and make everyday healthy choices are among aims of a program recently offered to tenants at two CPRHA properties.

Through the eight-session Health Education and Literacy (HEAL) Program, participants can learn about current healthcare topics, better understand medical terminology, and become more familiar with standard healthcare processes and practices. Kevin and Faith Blankenship, husband and wife, recently led the program at Fox Meadow in Lebanon and Fairfax Court in Richlands. The program is made available through a Literacy for Life grant. Russell and Tazewell are among counties the Blankenships cover through the grant.

When you hear the term “health literacy,” you may associate it with the ability to read and write, which is of course vital to understanding basic health information and making appropriate decisions. But health literacy encompasses more than that. For example, knowing how to read and understand medication labels, complete medical forms and insurance applications, interpret test results, understand medical bills and who to ask when you have questions or where to go when you need care all affect our health care. 

Kevin Blankenship, a local pastor, explained that the HEAL program consists of eight sessions covering different topics all aimed at helping participants lead healthier lives. At Fox Meadow, classes began May 30 and were held twice a week through July 8. Sessions were about 90 minutes long each and began with a hot, healthy meal for participants. Classes began at Fairfax Court on July 18 and ended August 16.

Lessons cover a variety of health-related topics. For example, the first lesson covers healthy eating. The next is about medication, with participants learning about over-the-counter versus prescription medication, how to talk to a pharmacist, and what questions to ask. A local pharmacist even visited the class to answer questions. Other lessons cover when to go to an emergency room or visit an urgent care center, what to expect during regular doctor visits, how to describe symptoms to a doctor, how to ask questions to better understand a diagnosis, and disease prevention. The final session includes a field trip to a local hospital.

At Fox Meadow, 10 people attended at least five classes, and several attended all eight. Five other people attended one or more classes.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Fox Meadows complex,” he noted. “We had a wonderful time with the participants. They received a lot of valuable and new information that will help them to live healthier lives. In fact, several told me they started eating healthy and changing some of their unhealthy habits to better take care of themselves.”

Pastor Blankenship said providing a healthy, hot meal for participants at the beginning of each class gave him and wife Faith an opportunity to become better acquainted with everyone. “Halfway through the course, several were already making statements about hating to see the program come to an end, and Faith and I felt the same way. We enjoyed every minute. The HEAL Program was an all-around great learning experience,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to his church, The River, for sponsoring meals for the program, as well as gift cards that were distributed to BINGO winners and other participants during the classes.

Participation was good at Fairfax Court too, said Pastor Blankenship.