Continuing their commitment to creating a healthier community, La Porte Hospital invited local seniors to visit their outpatient therapy and rehab center at The Crossing in La Porte to “Fall in Love with a Healthier You.” The senior health fair made possible through the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, encouraged seniors to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Organizations involved included La Porte Hospital, Purdue University Northwest, La Porte County Park and Recreation Department, La Porte County Public Library, and others.
“We’re focusing on encouraging our senior population to come in and learn about some ways to keep their bodies healthy and their minds sharp as they age,” said Katie Sarver, Manager of Wellness Outreach for La Porte Hospital.
Though La Porte Hospital offers health fairs throughout the year, Sarver said this is the first time they have specifically focused on addressing the needs of local seniors.
“We’re offering free screenings for blood pressure, bone density, and blood glucose, and a chance to mingle and try some healthy snacks,” Sarver said. “We have volunteer services here too, in case anyone might be looking for a way to get more involved with the community,” Sarver said.
La Porte Hospital Volunteer Services and Auxiliary members interact with patients and visitors at the hospital in a variety of ways, including greeting them at the concierge desk, delivering flowers and gifts, and helping to walk patients to various appointment locations in the hospital.
The event also offered an Ageless Grace class, which incorporated focused movement and slow, deliberate motion with the goal of helping to offset dementia and decreases in cognitive function related to age.
Kayla Banks, chest pain coordinator for La Porte Hospital, offered a hands-only CPR lesson as well.
“Often, when people witness someone having a heart attack, they are hesitant to perform CPR, for fear of hurting the patient,” Banks said. “Hands-only CPR is aimed at average civilians and can help keep someone alive until they can receive proper medical care.”
The demonstration allowed visitors to practice CPR on a simulator to see how it feels to actually perform CPR. This gives them the chance to become comfortable with performing hands-only CPR and could help them save the life of a friend or loved one until first responders can arrive.
“Even just doing chest compressions can help keep that blood flowing throughout the body, keeping their brain alive until someone who is CPR-certified can take over and perform traditional CPR,” Banks said.
Among the many people attending the event were Suzanne Thomas and Sandy Peterson of La Porte, long-time friends and regular visitors to The Crossing.
“We come here to work out,” Thomas said. “We’re here three days a week. It’s very important to watch your health closely, especially as we get older. “This is just a terrific place and we’re very lucky to be able to come here,” Thomas said. “The people here are just wonderful.”
“I had physical therapy here just a few weeks ago, and they really helped me a lot,” Peterson said.
The Crossing of La Porte Hospital is located at 1203 Washington St., La Porte, right behind the hospital. The Crossing offers affordable memberships to their comprehensive fitness center, which also includes a warm-water infinity therapy pool, and access to multiple group exercise classes. Physical, occupational, and speech-language pathology, as well as outpatient diabetes and wellness services, are also located at The Crossing. For more information about The Crossing or other programs, visit https://www.laportehealth.com/.
