Health program targets farm families
COUNTY - A program designed to improve the health of farmers and their families is expanding into Waupaca County.
The Rural Health Initiative, which began serving farmers in Shawano County in 2003, plans to work in Waupaca County with ThedaCare and local public health nurses to provide home visits to farmers.
The visits include basic health assessment tests and information on healthier diets or referrals to other medical providers, according to Rhonda Strebel, executive director of the Rural Health Initiative.
"The health of our farm families is in crisis. Most farmers either don't have health insurance or have insurance policies with high deductibles so we are helping them save costs by performing these basic tests and helping prevent problems before they become too serious," Strebel said. "By going out to the farmers directly, we are saving them time. Farmers are busy and many of them are committed to their work that they don't always think about their own health."
More than 18 percent of Wisconsin dairy farm families have no health insurance while another 41 percent have only high deductible plans that provide only major medical coverage, Strebel said.
Strebel said rising insurance costs prevent many farm families from seeking medical treatment for minor accidents or chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
We like to call our program 'kitchen wellness' since it's a good place to discuss all aspects of health, such as physical, emotional, and financial wellness," she said. "We bring the care right to them, which helps break down the barriers to healthcare access."
In Shawano County, Strebel said the Rural Health Initiative serves 325 farm families or about 40 percent of the county's total farm families.
Eighty-five percent of farmers reported being very satisfied with services received through the Rural Health Initiative.
For more information about the Rural Health Initiative, visit www.wiruralhealth.org.
The Rural Health Initiative, which began serving farmers in Shawano County in 2003, plans to work in Waupaca County with ThedaCare and local public health nurses to provide home visits to farmers.
The visits include basic health assessment tests and information on healthier diets or referrals to other medical providers, according to Rhonda Strebel, executive director of the Rural Health Initiative.
"The health of our farm families is in crisis. Most farmers either don't have health insurance or have insurance policies with high deductibles so we are helping them save costs by performing these basic tests and helping prevent problems before they become too serious," Strebel said. "By going out to the farmers directly, we are saving them time. Farmers are busy and many of them are committed to their work that they don't always think about their own health."
More than 18 percent of Wisconsin dairy farm families have no health insurance while another 41 percent have only high deductible plans that provide only major medical coverage, Strebel said.
Strebel said rising insurance costs prevent many farm families from seeking medical treatment for minor accidents or chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
We like to call our program 'kitchen wellness' since it's a good place to discuss all aspects of health, such as physical, emotional, and financial wellness," she said. "We bring the care right to them, which helps break down the barriers to healthcare access."
In Shawano County, Strebel said the Rural Health Initiative serves 325 farm families or about 40 percent of the county's total farm families.
Eighty-five percent of farmers reported being very satisfied with services received through the Rural Health Initiative.
For more information about the Rural Health Initiative, visit www.wiruralhealth.org.
More from Community News
- Seniors caught with pot will graduate (1)
- St. Jude Walk slated in Scaninavia
- Spring Cruise Car Show Friday
- Students learn from Food for America
- Main Street options debated (1)
- Vets Home to hold open house
- Tea Party event in New London (2)
- Benefit set for crash victim's family
- Senior Tribute Concert at WHS
- Book Swap at Lincoln
