Public Health Department Unveiled 2012 “Quality of Life Index” Today

The public celebrated the Pasadena Public Health Department’s 120th anniversary of protecting the health and wellness of Pasadena-area residents when the Department releases its 2012 Quality of Life Index report during a special celebration which began at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 27, in the Pasadena Central Library’s Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut Street.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard helped to open the festivities along with Dr. Eric Walsh, Public Health Department Director, who talked about the 2012 Pasadena/Altadena Quality of Life Index.

“As we celebrate 120 years of Pasadena’s Public Health Department, we are encouraged by the great strides for overall improved health that has been made by the City, yet we are looking forward with great excitement to what possibilities the future holds,” Dr. Walsh said.

“The scientific literature around public health has increased our understanding as to the root causes of many chronic diseases and the environmental and behavioral factors that determine health. Our Quality of Life report outlines where Pasadena and Altadena stands on key indicators and helps to begin the discussion around how we can make improvements.”

The report looks at income, employment, housing and education data as key social and economic factors that affect and influence the quality of life and the overall health of a community. Among the report’s key findings are:

• There has been a 79.3% reduction in unhealthy air quality days since 2002 in Pasadena.
• In Pasadena, the number of high school graduates decreased 6% since 2007, and those with less than a high school diploma increased 4%.
• Almost 25% of the non-elderly adult population in Pasadena has no medical insurance.

Copies of the report are available for distribution. To download previous issues of the report, go to www.cityofpasadena.net/qualityoflifeindex or call (626) 744-6177.

For more information about the Pasadena Public Health Department go to www.cityofpasadena.net/publichealth.

For more information about the City of Pasadena, go to www.cityofpasadena.net.