Community Benefits Outreach Programs

Community Support Services

As part of our mission to deliver exceptional care to our communities, we implement innovative programs that are designed to support the wellbeing of community members beyond the care center.

Our community outreach programs focus on reducing barriers to care, preventing disease through nutrition, supporting cancer survivors after treatment, and hosting educational programs to empower community members to take charge of their health.

Food Access and Nutrition Support for Seniors

Our community health needs assessments have consistently identified elder health as a key focus area, showing that about one-third of seniors in Arlington and Burlington were not getting the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Our assessment revealed that cost was one barrier to access.

Working with World PEAS Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), we developed a program to provide fresh produce free of charge to seniors in the area. Once a week for 20 weeks during the growing season, 120 seniors gather and take home six different types of fruits and vegetables.

Good nutrition is key to preventing disease, and this program helps promote general health. By getting seniors out of the house and socializing at the markets, it also reduces isolation. More than two-thirds of participants reported making new connections or renewing old ones through the program.

Nutrition is central to the care we deliver at Lahey. Our senior patients benefit from robust nutrition services as part of their treatment plan.

YMCA Pink Program

Lahey partners with the Burbank YMCA in Reading to offer the Pink Program for breast cancer survivors. The program gives those taking part and their families memberships at the YMCA for 12 weeks. Besides providing social and emotional support, it works to boost participants' energy, strength and ease of movement when doing daily tasks. Our evaluations show it meets those goals — and improves quality of life.

Community Events & Partnership Programs

Our community health grants are a pillar of our local community health investment. As part of this initiative, we coordinate with local leaders to identify the most pressing health needs facing our communities and design programs that properly address them.

Additionally, we offer numerous events to help support community education around key health topics. These events are free and open to the public.

Promoting Community Wellness

Whether at health fairs, blood pressure screenings or backpack fit checks, our team is in the community, actively working to safeguard your health. Our employees volunteer more than 2,000 hours each year to community programming and projects because their communities — and you — are important to them.

In addition to outside events, we offer free support groups to families and patients living with a serious illness or chronic disease.

Further Resources

We believe in empowering patients, loved ones and communities through education. You will find a wide variety of educational opportunities available at Lahey, including support groups, health and wellness events, and more.