Next health and wellness event set for May 30

Posted

The Senior Center has a pilot program expanding health and wellness services to Archuleta County seniors. The program includes wellness and blood pressure monitoring, or allows individual area seniors to discuss two subjects of their choice.

There is no charge for Medicare enrollees. Participant IDs will include Medicare card, photo ID and, if necessary, any supplemental insurances. No Medicaid is accepted at this time. Participants are encouraged to bring a list of their current medications.

Clinical assessment will be provided by Tabitha Zappone, FNP-C.

The goal of the outreach clinic is to provide care to those who are not able to travel.

The next health and wellness event will be May 30.

Medical alert system

Medical alert monitoring systems are available for seniors. We can help you get set up with a system and assist with the monthly service charges or, if you already have a system in place, we can help supplement the monthly service fees.

Please call 264-2167 for more information or to sign up.

San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging: Survey response and life safety survey

By Kay Kaylor

I advocate for residents at Pine Ridge and BeeHive Homes as the part-time long-term care ombudsman for Archuleta County.

Federal and state laws protect residents to promote quality of care and quality of life. Pine Ridge staff reported that from March 21, while health department surveyors were still on site, to April 6 they took corrective actions on the four citations from the March 22 survey. Some involved care for specific residents, doing a grooming and hygiene walk through and re-educating staff on April 5.

Additional corrective measures reported include daily rounds by supervisors, weekly checks by the director of nursing, reviewing documentation, observation of insulin injections and dressing changes, monitoring and documenting infections, reviewing resident records for immunization consent. Finally, staff intends to regularly review medication administration records and ensure compliance during quarterly team meetings. The next step will be whether the health department accepts the corrective actions.

The health department also conducted the annual life safety inspection on April 17 using the fire safety requirements of the National Fire Protection Association’s 2012 codes. As background, the Pine Ridge building was constructed in late 1997, with eight rooms added in August 2005. The rehabilitation section has a distinct fire-rated separation. Pine Ridge has a fully sprinklered automatic fire suppression system. The document I received details three citations, with Pine Ridge reporting that it completed its compliance April 23. I will explain the results in more detail in the next column.

For further information, you may call me at 403-2164 or send an email to ombudsman2@sjbaaa.org.

Memberships

Senior Discount Club memberships are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Menu

Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch. If you are a senior (60 years and older), for only a $4 suggested donation, you are eligible for a hot meal, drink and a salad prepared by our kitchen staff.

The guest fee for those 59 and under is $10 and children 10 years and under can eat for $5 each. Access to the salad bar is only $6 for those under 60.

Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday, May 3 — Salmon cakes, black bean and mango salsa, Mexicali corn, milk and salad bar.

Friday, May 4 — Chicken blue corn tamale, refried beans, Spanish brown rice, milk and salad bar.

Monday, May 7 — Tacos with mango salsa, black beans, cilantro lime rice, milk and salad bar.

Tuesday, May 8 — Roast pork or vegetarian creole polenta with mustard sauce, black bean succotash, milk and salad bar.

Wednesday, May 9 — Turkey sausage or veggie pizza, Italian pasta salad, Italian spinach with mushrooms, milk and salad bar.

Thursday, May 10 — Chicken with broccoli and rice casserole, yellow squash medley, milk, salad bar and carrot cake.

Reservations and cancellations are required. You can make a reservation at 264-2167 by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you would like to dine in the Community Cafe at the Senior Center.

For your convenience, you can make your reservations in advance or have a standing reservation on days you know you will always attend. Please cancel if you cannot attend on your standing reservation days.