We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new Healthy Elder Box, a thoughtfully curated resource designed to support the health and wellness of our elders in the way they deserve.
Native communities have long faced deep and persistent disparities in health, healthcare access, and coverage. While the federal government holds a trust responsibility to meet the healthcare needs of Native American people, the Indian Health Service (IHS), the primary agency charged with upholding that commitment, has been chronically underfunded, leaving many without adequate care. Geographic isolation, economic hardship, and a historic lack of culturally appropriate services have only compounded these challenges, rooted in a long and painful history of federal mistreatment. With proposed cuts to Medicaid now threatening to widen these gaps even further, protecting access to care for our elders has never been more urgent.
That’s why Running Strong partnered with Dreamstarter Rose Reese Quintana, a nursing student and passionate advocate working to increase the number of Indigenous healthcare professionals, to develop a healthcare box with our elders in mind. Together, we built something meaningful — a practical, care-centered kit to help keep our elders safe, healthy, and supported.
Each box includes an oxygen monitor, blood pressure monitor, multivitamins, bandages and band-aids, a weekly pill organizer, a pill cutter, medicated lotions and ointments, wipes, cough drops, and more.
Our elders have given so much. This is one small way we give back.
This Spring, we will be distributing 2,000 Healthy Elder Boxes to tribal communities across the nation.
