MASON CITY — According to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, Iowa ranks:
- 4th in the nation of people age 85 and older.
- 4th in the nation of people aged 75 and older.
- 9th in the nation of people aged 65 and older.
- 11th in the nation of people aged 60 and older.
With our continuous aging population in Iowa, more people are seeking health care services than ever before. But many say they are rushed when they see their physician. They say they want to better understand their health care options.
The Senior Health Clinic at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has undergone a name change. The new name is the Healthy Living Clinic. “This name change reflects the changing aging population demographic”, said Shirley Stephen, Chronic Disease Prevention Nurse at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. “Many people have expressed dislike for the word “senior” to describe their young, vibrant age group, so we are excited to have a fresh name for our same great clinic.”
The Healthy Living Clinic at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health gives people age 55 and older a chance to sit down with a registered nurse and discuss their health care concerns in more detail. During the annual assessment, Stephen, a registered nurse who has been trained in Health Assessment, spends 90 minutes with each client. The clinic provides individual health education, including the importance of good nutrition, proper exercise and rest, cancer detection, understanding medications and other specific topics. If a health problem is found, the client is referred to the appropriate health care provider, such as a physician, dentist, etc.
“Clinic patients tell me they feel rushed at the doctor’s office. They really seem to appreciate it when we I can spend an hour-and-a-half with them to talk about their health,” Stephen said. “Sometimes, they just want to talk. Maybe they don’t understand the medications they are on, so we talk about that. But each client receives a head-to-toe physical assessment.”
Healthy Living Clinics are held at various locations in Cerro Gordo County. The clinics are free. Donations are welcome.
For more information about the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health’s Healthy Living Clinics, please visit our website at www.cghealth.com or call Shirley at 641-421-9316.
8 thoughts on “Healthy Living Clinics available to Cerro Gordo County residents age 55 and older”
Ha ha waste of time, this site has any resources/info anyone would need, https://www.naturalnews.com/, also https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A11&version=KJV.
I think I was referring to sites such as: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions?mc_id=google&campaign=765600377&geo=9017907&kw=mayo%20clinic&ad=229674722853&network=g&sitetarget=&adgroup=41241193915&extension=11299598977&target=kwd-354025346&matchtype=e&device=c&account=2022348272&invsrc=regional&placementsite=minnesota&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzKWerZWm3AIVD7XACh2JnQ7lEAAYASABEgKwyPD_BwE or https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases or https://www.nih.gov/health-information
If a person with no education such as myself can find it, anyone can. All it takes is willingness.
Number one, I am a Senior, have no problem with that classification.
Second, I must be lucky in that whenever there is a need, my physician gives me enough time and information to diagnose and treat the ailment. If he cannot, he refers me to someone who can. He has not failed me yet.
But I also take the initiative to research on my own, both before and after the appointment to better understand what is going on. It’s not that hard in the Internet age. If I walk in prepared, there is more time to ask the right questions and better treat what ever it is.
So I have no need, as a Senior, to waste more of my time and cover the same bases with someone else, on the taxpayers nickel.
Well good for you. You seem to be able to sill use those resources. I still can too. But there are lots of seniors that can not and this program is for them.
You have the resources and the good fortune to address and meet your health care needs. Many are not. You sound a bit self righteous when you appear to condemn with the “taxpayers nickel” bullshit. Shame on you.
Many of those you put down with your “on the taxpayer’s nickel” paid that nickel many times over in income tax, sales tax, property tax and so on. They are taxpayer’s also. Count your blessings and don’t look down on those who were not quite so fortunate as you.
It was not meant as a put down towards others. It was meant that I will not waste my time and the taxpayers nickel.
The other part however, is pretty plain. Computers are as common as toothpicks these days. And if there is someone who cannot afford it, there is your family, neighbors, and if all else fails, easy access at the Mason City Public Library.
It’s not that hard, Google does most of the work. I did that for duodenal diverticulum, the idea being to prevent a repeat occurrence. Indeed it was self serving, to spare myself of the pain, and expense. And it’s something anyone can do.
And MANY, MANY of those taxpayer’s nickels go to fund LIB teachers salaries and retirement payments.