Prevention of diabetes and diabetes care among elderly in Armenia

Objectives

Scaling up a community health model for diabetes care in collaboration with regional authorities and MoH, with special focus on the elderly, to prevent diabetes and its complications among at-risk populations in three regions of Armenia.

Approach

The project represents a DRC/ARCS partnership with MoH/ regional authorities to scale up a community health model for diabetes care. The project will build diabetes self-management capacity and promote healthy living at the community level by engaging trained volunteers from Armenia Red Cross Society. The trained volunteers will form self-support groups (SSG) for diabetes patients and will facilitate monthly meetings. The groups will provide peer support as well as practical trainings on self-management and healthy living.

The project will also mobilise resourceful seniors in the communities to form healthy ageing peer groups. The groups will promote healthy lifestyle and ageing and be a means to prevent diabetes.

Through the project an innovative digital health solution will be developed through co-creation with relevant tech partners. The final solution will be built, refined and tested with real users from the SSGs.

Expected results

48 communities with improved access to diabetes care and prevention
180 nurses and 210 community volunteers trained within diabetes care and facilitation of SSGs
120 SSGs established with 2,160 diabetes patients actively involved in self-management.
1440 SSG meetings and 1440 healthy activities held.
At least 6,480 family members actively engaged in group activities.
48 healthy ageing peer groups established.
9,000 vulnerable elderly community members reached with healthy lifestyle activities in the communities.
Digital solution for self-management of diabetes developed and piloted