FREE RANGE HEALTH
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : c********r@f*************h.o*g
Mission Statement
Free Range Health® creates access to low-cost acupuncture medicine services for underserved individuals and communities.
About This Cause
Free Range Health works to provide access to low-cost acupuncture medicine services for underserved individuals and communities. Free Range Health works primarily with elders and people with chronic pain in the comfort and convenience of their local senior center. An innovator in the field of nonprofit acupuncture, we provide a wide range of acupuncture medicine services including low-cost acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas, and nutritional counseling as well as education and outreach to the larger community. Since 2012, we have provided more than 18,000 treatments representing over 11,500 treatment hours. In 2018 alone, we provided over 2,762 treatments and added 153 new patients across all clinic locations. We now have over 500 active patients that use our services as needed, many of whom seek treatment once a month or more. Patients range in age from 20 to 100 years old with 41% in their 50’s; 20% in their 40’s; and 19% in their 60’s. The majority of our patients are women. Our goal is to help the eldery live a better quality of life by reducing their pain levels; increasing their ability to do more activities of daily living; improving outcomes for chronic health conditions; and increasing their feelings of hopefulness and well-being. You can see this incredible work firsthand when you visit our Senior Wellness Clinic at the Stillaguamish Senior Center host site. This is one of our busiest locations. Services begin at 9AM and run until 2:30PM every Wednesday. We serve 6 clients per hour for a total of 27 appointments each week. In this one location last year, 981 treatments were provided to 144 elders and underserved individuals from the communities of Arlington, Marysville, Camano Island, and Darrington. We are committed to helping elders and low-income live life more fully, with less pain, and with the ability to have a quality life Many elderly individuals live with chronic health conditions that seriously impair their ability to enjoy life and complete activities of daily living. Studies have shown acupuncture treatments to be particularly effective for managing the numerous conditions associated with aging such as arthritis, hypertension, loss of balance, and neuropathy. Unfortunately, acupuncture services are not readily available or easily accessed by senior citizens at for-profit clinics. One of the main reasons for this is the relatively high out-of-pocket costs, which can be close to $100 per treatment. Many patients require 6 to 12 treatments or more depending on the severity of their condition, leading to high costs that are unaffordable for those on fixed incomes. In July 2014, there were 46.2 million people who were 65 and older in the United States. A crisis in Medicare funding and limited billable insurance options for seniors creates an even greater gap. Free Range Health removes these obstacles by delivering low-cost services at local senior centers. Many of these centers have low-income housing nearby, which makes this a convenient way to access our services without the need to travel long distances. For patients with limited mobility, this can be the difference between having treatments or not. Our unique mobile model allows Free Range Health to focus our limited resources on direct patient care. We do not have the overhead associated with maintaining a physical location. In addition, our host sites manage scheduling appointments and taking payments, which frees us of this adminstrative burden. Patients also benefit from accessing our services in a community hub like the senior center. Patients may begin visiting the center only to have acupuncture, but eventually our program acts as a springboard into other social activites for the patients. Clients stay to use other services such as: educational programs, lunch, bible study, arts & crafts, bingo, etc. This collaboration increases overall center revenue and creates strong community connections. An investment in services at the local senior center is helping to create a true community center. Acupuncture is an ancient form of medical treatment. Recognized in the State of Washingtion under RCW 18.06, the legislature recognizes the state's professional designation of acupuncturists to East Asian medicine practitioners and to incorporate current statutory provisions governing acupuncture, while recognizing treatments, methods, and techniques used in East Asian medicine. In 2017, two staff completed training to become the first providers in Washington State to be Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture Specialists (CHPCA) through the National Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncturists. This will allow a continuum of care for our patients who are no longer able to leave their homes. According to the US Censes Bureau, by 2025, it is anticipated that 24.8% of the Snohomish County population will be 60+. Helping north county seniors to live more active lives, through increased mobility and reduced pain, will ultimately improve their overall quality of life.