Wellness Center gives residents tools to take care of themselves

Thursday, March 3, 2011
Gathered to cut the ribbon on the Wellness Center inside the Putnam County Senior Center were, from left, Francis Sparks, Charles Miles, Barbara Black, JoAnn Short, DeVon Milton, Nancy Buss, David Worth, Kyle Hutchison, Buck Martin, John Pipas, Lori Melton and Pamela Dunlap.

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Senior Citizens Center, Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) and Autumn Glen have partnered to bring a new health service to Putnam County.

With the new VNS Wellness Center, unveiled Tuesday at the Senior Center, residents will have the ability to track health factors like weight, oxygen level, heart rate and blood pressure. The service is free at the new kiosk installed at the Senior Center.

"Where else are you going to go in the healthcare system that it's not going to cost you anything?" asked John Pipas of VNS.

Lori Melton of Visiting Nurse Service assists Betty Bruner in the operation of the new Wellness Center inside the Putnam County Senior Center.

The goal of the program is to take preventive measures before health problems arrive. Participants will be given a swipe card to access the system. The unique code of each card helps track the individual's health information.

VNS staff will review the results, tracking longterm trends in a person's health. If factors change suddenly or over time, a VNS staffer will do a follow-up call with the patron to find out more and advise them of a possible course of action.

"This is all about wellness -- keeping you healthy," Lori Melton of VNS said.

The Wellness Center has become part of the Senior Center's Putnam County Resource Center, which also provides county residents information on longterm care, home health care and hospice care.

For more information on the Wellness Center, contact the Senior Center at 653-8606.

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  • Such a great thing for free, when everything else is on the rise including food, gas and oil. Thank you for giving the county a free way to monitor their health.

    -- Posted by wineethupooh on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 4:42 PM
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