Community assessment tools are used all over the world. Many were born from local neighborhood program models that were used and developed over time based on necessity. Many of these tools have been very successful, and publishing them helps others as they work to improve their neighborhoods. Structural and procedural models are beneficial and have shown considerable success. Programs must be prioritized based on current needs and available resources. Results must be measurable and sustainable (Sharifi et al., 2021). According to the textbook reading, population-based health care interventions are developed in “collaboration.” Input from all interested community stakeholders assists in the identification of problems/needs and allows ideas for improvement from many different points of view. It also increases the likelihood of success through cooperation. Community engagement takes consultation, involvement, communication, and action (Clark 2016). NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA) is a department in the . Department of Health & Human Services that focuses on the challenges faced by older Americans, their families, and caregivers. Helping people stay in their homes as they age reduces the amount of institutional care needed to care for a rapidly aging nation. The community’s financial health and its residents would be one priority in choosing a program to help seniors who would like to remain in their homes as they age. This is a trending health concern in the United States and my community; Los Angeles is a crowded metropolitan area, long-term care is expensive, and beds are often limited. The 2020 census reported that out of an estimated 80,000 residents, my community had 32,000 over 45 years. My town has two senior centers, which shows that the older population is valued, and further help would align well with already established goals. Aging safety and home safety programs may already exist somehow, but adding new and fresh ideas may be worth the resources required to develop a new program. Stakeholders may choose to update an existing program, which would be acceptable (Community health assessment toolkit, .). This class will allow a project to be developed based on community data obtained from Community Health I; that information should be presented to community leaders, any healthcare agencies interested in participating, and other regional or state leaders identified as potential partners. The project, its objectives, and goals must be presented in a clear manner that identifies the potential benefits of all stakeholders. The multi-voting technique may work well in this situation, as the group discusses issues and prioritizes them. Strategy lists may also work if resources are limited and only specific programs will be implemented (Community health assessment toolkit, .).
