Promoting wellness, maintaining health, and preventing disease for area seniors
As the population ages and more seniors face debilitating health conditions, it has become increasingly important for MidState Medical Center to extend its health education to area seniors. MidState has always placed great significance on geriatric outreach, establishing the LaPlanche Clinic at the Meriden Senior Center thirty years ago to meet the needs of seniors. Now more than ever, our outreach to seniors on health promotion and disease prevention is vital.
You’ll find geriatric outreach services across our communities of Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire in the form of physician lectures, health screenings, and one-on-one consultations by our certified gerontological nurse. Qualified speakers provide information on arthritis, diabetes, pain management, stroke, heart disease, cancer risk, nutrition and physical activity and all topics of interest to seniors.
A few of our most prominent geriatric outreach venues:
The LaPlanche Clinic at the Meriden Senior Center
Click here to view the LaPlanche Brochure.
Named in honor of Oscar and Peggy LaPlanche, the LaPlanche Clinic was established in 1979. Oscar and Peggy were both dedicated hospital volunteers, instrumental in the establishment of the Clinic at the Meriden Senior Center. The Clinic is open 20 hours per week and is staffed by a Certified Gerontological Nurse. Appropriate staff is utilized from MidState to conduct the various health screenings and to provide health education information (ie. pharmacist, dietician, clinical nurse specialist). Free parking is available in the Hanover Street lot across from the rear entrance to the Senior Center.
Nurse available Mondays after 11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Cheshire Senior Center
Our Certified Gerontological Nurse extended her community outreach from Meriden to Cheshire in 2007 by taking her work at the LaPlanche Clinic on the road to the Cheshire Senior Center. Blood pressure screenings, a review of patients’ medical histories, consultations, and other appropriate screenings and health programs are provided.
Nurse available every Tuesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Southington Senior Center
Finally, to further our commitment to community health and wellness, MidState is now meeting the needs of seniors at the Calendar House in Southington by offering the same type of programming and services found at the LaPlanche Clinic and Cheshire Senior Center.
Nurse available the first Monday of the month, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Our Certified Gerontological Nurse: Bringing Health Education to Area Seniors
Jackie Hackbarth, RN, Clinical Coordinator
Jackie graduated as valedictorian from St. Francis School of Nursing and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from St. Joseph’s College in North Windham, Maine. She is certified in Gerontological Nursing by the American Nurses Association. In addition to her educational accomplishments, Hackbarth has also been a part of the Elderly Task Force of Healthy Meriden 2010 for over 10 years and helped to establish the Advisory Committee on Aging in Meriden. In her role at LaPlanche, Hackbarth has used her expertise to provide a wide range of services to seniors for over 20 years. “I just love working with seniors and helping to improve their quality of life,” says Hackbarth.