2 Improvement in Community and Organizational metrics as prioritized and reported by the community.
What is Blue Zones?
Our Promise
Measurement and Value
Riverside OpportunitiesRiverside Challenges
Building a Culture of Well-Being not only means healthier and happier people; it also means a better and more productive workforce and a more vibrant economy.
These well-being shortcomings are costing countless
billions in lost productivity, absenteeism , and healthcare costs. Chronic diseases are costing the city billions of dollars in largely avoidable healthcare costs.
BLUE ZONES PROJECT RESULTS
Sustainable
Community Vitality
Improved Well-Being
Civic Pride and
Economic Development
More Productive,
Less Costly Populations
Blue Zones uses over 20 years of research and scientifically proven lessons of longevity, health, and happiness from the longest-lived cultures in the world to transform community environments so healthy choices are the easiest to make. We have a proven history of improving well-being for entire populations.
We’ve identified the ways in which we can forge a pathway forward, creating true measurable steps towards transformation in Riverside.
To boost the well-being of entire communities, we take a systems approach to making lasting changes in all the places and spaces people live, work, learn, and play. These changes to our surroundings and systems collectively nudge people to move naturally, eat wisely, develop the right outlook, and connect with each other.
BLUE ZONES IN RIVERSIDE Empowering everyone, everywhere to live better, longer We measure risk reduction with the Gallup Well-Being
Index® and survey elements tied to overall well-being
improvement.
1 3 Enhanced community brand and marketing value
associated with billions of positive media impressions and thousands of published stories.
Riverside faces widely-known, seemingly intractable,
and significant challenges to well-being:
Strong car-dependency, with limited convenient
public transit and challenges around ridership
Environmental issues with air and water quality
Limited supply of affordable, diverse housing
Limited walkability outside of select neighborhoods
High concentration of fast food and convenience
stores selling junk food
Update Street Design Guidelines and Standards
Adopt Vision Zero Resolution and Implementation Strategy Continue to Build on Investments in the Downtown Core
Encourage Diversified Housing Development
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
TOBACCO
Public Health Allies Value Relationships
Trust Building and Trust-Maintaining
More Innovative “Upstream,” Culturally Appropriate and
Trauma-Informed Solutions for Serving Communities
More Innovative Approaches to Promoting Prevention
Education and Cessation
Achieve Blue Zones Approval:
• 50% of Schools
• 10% of Restaurants
• 25% of Grocery Stores
• 25% of the Workforce
Partner with Faith-Based Communities in Volunteer Programs
PLACES PEOPLE
15% of Community Participate in:
• Purpose Workshops
• Blue Zones curated Volunteer Program
• Take the Blue Zones Vitality Compass
• Join a Blue Zones “Moai”
Implement Additional Policy to Address and Mitigate Alcohol Abuse
Develop Targeted and Impactful Communication to Raise
Awareness about the Risks of Alcohol Abuse
Utilize Data Analysis to Assess the Effectiveness of
Interventions, Identify Trends, and Make Informed Decisions about Further Improvement
ALCOHOL
Building Riverside’s Next Gen Food Systems Infrastructure Strengthening Policies and Infrastructure for Hunger Relief System and Healthy Food Access
Creating Healthy Food Policies at Key Sites
Deploying Zoning to Improve Health
FOOD ENVIRONMENT
Blue Zones Project Fort Worth was featured in
more than 2,500 news stories including TODAY
Show, The New York Times, and NBC Nightly News
Collier County heart disease deaths dropped by 8.1%
since launch of Blue Zones Project SW Florida and life
expectancy improved to the highest in the nation
Fort Worth moved from 185th to 31st in nation for
healthiest city rankings since launch of Blue Zones
Project Fort Worth
68% drop in childhood obesity rates in elementary
schools in Redondo Beach, CA
Smoking declined by 31% in Fort Worth and
exercise increased by 15%
NCH Healthcare System in Florida showed a 54%
decrease in self-insured healthcare claims, saving
$27 million over 4 years
Key Well-Being Measures for Riverside
1 in 2 1 in 4 3 in 5 3 in 10 7 in 10
Do not have a
good perception
of their health
Do not exercise
at appropiate
levels
Do not eat
sufficient fruits
and vegetables
Have worried
about money in
the last week
Have a poor
current life
evaluation
Are obese or
overweight
Are not
proud of their
community
Do not feel
safe and
secure
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Riverside could save about
$468.8 million with a coordinated
comprehensive effort
According to Gallup:
1 in 2
Riverside
residents
are struggling
with their health
1 in 2
Report they are
not proud of their
community
1 in 2
are experiencing
regular financial
stress
Blue Zones estimates that without
transformation, the annual
medical and productivity costs
will increase annually by $222
million over the next decade.
Over the next decade, Riverside
will incur a cumulative burden
of $3.1 billion more in medical
costs and $1.4 billion more in lost
workforce productivity.
Everyone Benefits
Cost of Doing Nothing
The current well-being trends for Riverside
create a high price for doing nothing differently
Medical and Productivity Cost Projections Absent Intervention for Ages 18 and Up
Deepen brand equity and differentiate in a
competitive market, accelerate reach, and
expand total media impressions, create trust
and legacy of bettering your community, public
recognition at community events, and national
and regional recognition.
Creating Value for Riverside
Benefits to City and County:
• Boost economic vitality
• Attract new businesses
• Increase property values
• Generate new housing starts
• Attract grants, awards, gifts,
and funding
Benefits to Large Employers:
• Improve productivity
• Lower healthcare costs
• Reduce turnover rates
• Improve employee engagement
and satisfaction
• Attract skilled workforce
Benefits to Health Systems:
• Join with partners to create an accountable community health model
• Position brand as trusted partner for health and well-being with consumers
• Decrease prevalence and incidence of chronic disease
• Lead with innovation to meet highest needs
• Help people live better, longer
Benefits to Non-Profit Organizations:
• Accelerate community reach and awareness
• Attract grants and awards
• Guide Blue Zones work by sitting on
leadership committees
• Position organization as innovator and leader
in community
• Magnify impact by joining inclusive movement
in community
Benefits to Health Insurers:
• Sustainably lower healthcare costs
• Improve employee well-being and productivity
• Improve employee and customer engagement
and satisfaction
• Position company as leader in
preventative health
• Elevate brand perception and media exposure
©2023 Blue Zones, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Through a Blue Zones Transformation, Riverside has an
opportunity to change not only individual lives but the entire course of health and vitality of the community
today and for future generations.
Over the next decade, the impact of a Blue Zones
Project transformation that includes three designated
transformation areas and county-wide efforts around
people, places, and policy can result in:
Projected Medical Cost
Savings of ~$164.7M
Reductions in projected
workforce lost productivity
of ~$228.9M over the
next decade
Projected ~$159 average
annual per capita medical
savings and productivity
improvement value for the
adult population over the
next decade
Approximately $75.2M in
direct and indirect benefits
to the regional economy
Billions of expected positive
media and brand impressions
Additional related follow-on
community grants, gifts,
and investments
Cumulative total value of
over $468.8 million for
Riverside area
Overall value includes:
$164.7 million $228.9 million $75.2 million
Improve
Well-Being
Adopt or maintain
healthy behaviors
Reduce health-
related risks
Optimize care for health
conditions and disease
Increase Total
Economic Value
States
Communities
Payers
Individuals
Reduce Total
Medical Cost
Hospitalizations
Event Rates
Disease Rates
Lifestyle Risks
Increase
Performance
Energy
Engagement
Absence
Work Impairment
Measuring the Impact of Well-Being
Research demonstrates the link between well-being, medical costs, and job performance Any ER Visit
High Claims Cost
Low Intent-to-Stay
Low Supervisor Rating
Any Unscheduled PTO
Any Short Term Disability days
Any Self Report Absence (HPQ)
Low Self Evaluation (HPQ
Mid-High
Mid
Mid-Low
Well Being LevelLow
123 4 5 6 7
Figure adapted from: Overall Well-Being as a Predictor of Healthcare, Productivity and Retention Outcomes in a Large Employer. Population Health Management, 2013.
Riverside has a number of challenges in the risk profile of the population. Obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are 87%, 70%, and 74% higher (respectively) as compared to the benchmark MSAs in the U.S. Additionally, inactivity, poor diet, and tobacco use are all higher than the benchmark MSAs by 30%, or more. Disease prevalence rates in diabetes, depression, and cancer exceed that of the benchmark MSAs.
A
B
REI of PerformanceProductivity SavingsMedical Cost Savings $Thousands in Yearly Savings
Years
234567891 01
$468.8 MILLION
Cumulative Projected Value
$0
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
Medical Costs Productivity Cost Lost
Years
$ Millions
0 $0
$500
$1,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,500
123 4 5 6 78 9 1 0
Totaling $21.6 Billion Across 10 YearsTotaling $9.7 Billion Acros s 10
Years
$1,000
$2,500
$2,000
$4,000