The Coalition for Older Adult Health Promotion recently presented its
2001 Community Health Award to faculty and students at the University of
Nebraska Medical Center Senior Health Promotion Center. The award is presented
to groups or individuals who make outstanding contributions to promoting
healthy lifestyle choices for older adults in Lincoln and Lancaster County.
UNMC College of Nursing faculty members, Linda Sather, Ed.D., and Rita
Antonson, as well as UNMC College of Dentistry faculty Teresa Johnson,
D.D.S., and Dennis Kent, D.D.S., were cited for their exemplary sustained
focus on quality of care to students they instruct at the UNMC Senior Health
Promotion Center.
We believe the group of dedicated professionals at the Senior Health
Promotion Center are most deserving of the 2001 Community Health Award,
said Peggy Apthorpe, of the coalitions executive committee.
The Coalition for Older Adult Health Promotions purpose is to promote
positive, health enhancing lifestyle choices and habits through educational
programs, service and information for residents of Lincoln and Lancaster
County. Coalition members include banks, government agencies, residential
and care facilities, home health services and hospitals.
Receiving the award from the coalition is affirmation that the center
is helping to address certain unmet health promotion needs of older adults,
said Dr. Sather, UNMC assistant professor of community health nursing,
UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division and the centers project director.
Faculty and students are delighted to receive this honor from the members
of the coalition for health promotion services that we love doing.
The center, which offers free health promotion services to low income
and minority older adults, is located at the Lincoln Downtown Senior Center.
It has logged 1,918 client visits since it opened on Nov. 9, 1999. Its
hours are Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., except holidays or other
posted days.
The center is operated by UNMC nursing and dentistry faculty and students.
Services offered at the UNMC Senior Health Promotion Center include
oral health exams, foot care, ear cleaning, blood pressure, blood glucose,
cholesterol and osteoporosis screenings. Participants also receive individualized
health education and counseling services and referrals to other health
professionals as needed.
The center receives public and private funds, including $130,172 from
the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund (tobacco settlement), which has enhanced
the ability to provide much needed health and dental services.