VNA Care Network & Hospice Receives $17,500 Grant to Help Seniors Learn if They Have "Silent Killer"
VNA Care Network & Hospice will collaborate with area Councils on Aging to help an estimated 1,000 elders learn if they have the "silent killer," osteoporosis, thanks to a grant from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects bone mass, resulting in fragile bones that are more likely to break. Age is one of the greatest risk factors for osteoporosis, and women are four times more likely to develop the disease than men. It is often called the "silent killer" because people may not be aware they have a problem until a bone breaks. Hip fractures, one of the more common types of breaks from osteoporosis, usually lead to hospitalization and surgery and can be fatal.
VNA Care Network & Hospice is using the $17,500 grant from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation for portable bone mineral density testing equipment (pictured with Maureen Sendrowski, RN, MPH, at left and Faith Theokas, RN) and will partner with Councils on Aging to offer free screenings for seniors over the next year in Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Franklin, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury and Westborough.
"Helping area elders remain healthy in their own home has long been a goal of the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation," said Martin Cohen, the Foundation's President and CEO. "By funding VNA Care Network & Hospice's Bone Density Screening Program, we are hoping to increase awareness and early identification of bone loss and osteoporosis, which can contribute to falls and fractures that often lead to hospitalizations and nursing home admissions."
Removing Barriers
Even though age is one of the greatest risk factors for osteoporosis, a study published in the March 2006 Journal of American Geriatrics Society showed that as women get older, they are less likely to be screened for osteoporosis.
Maureen Sendrowski, RN, MPH, preventative health program manager for VNA Care Network & Hospice, said, "Transportation and deductibles can be big barriers for older Americans. A spinal scan for bone density requires a physician's referral and an appointment with a specialist in a facility that houses the bone scan equipment. With this grant, VNA Care Network & Hospice can reduce these barriers by offering initial bone mineral density screenings locally at no cost to seniors."
The portable equipment scans the client's ankle and heel bones, which correlates well with identifying hip and spine fracture risk. If a senior is found to have low bone mass, he or she will be referred to a physician, who can recommend preventive medication, exercise, diet changes or a combination of all of these in order to prevent fractures before they occur. VNA Care Network & Hospice's wellness nurses will also provide education about preventing falls and bone health.
Information
Bone mineral density screening dates will be posted on the osteoporosis screenings page. For more information about the screenings, contact Maureen Sendrowski, RN, MPH, preventative health program manager, at msendrowski@vnacarenetwork.org, 888-663-3688, ext. 5603, or 508-786-0693, ext. 5603. For more information about VNA Care Network & Hospice, call 800-728-1862.
Posted: Nov. 14, 2007