Aging project offers healthy alternatives

by Cindy Abole, Public Relations

Nurse practitioner Barbara Edlund, left, meets with Floyd Manor resident, Delores White, following a recent health assessment. Joseph Floyd Manor is home to a new nursing care clinic. It serves more than 200 residents of the building and Brighton Place communities.

Elderly and disabled residents living within some of Charleston’s subsidized housing areas are getting a chance to improve their quality of life.

In August, MUSC’s College of Nursing opened the doors of a newly established nursing clinic at the Joseph Floyd Manor, in peninsular Charleston.

As one of MUSC’s Healthy South Carolina Initiatives, the Healthy Aging Project is funded by a three-year grant which provides health care alternatives for more than 200 residents, many who are elderly, disabled and in a poor economic state.

“It is our presence which helps to provide residents with health education, primary care and gynecology services which reinforce healthy living,” said Marjorie McManus, clinical director and women’s health provider for the clinic.

Located on the top floor of the Joseph Floyd Manor, the MUSC Nursing Clinic provides individual health assessments, treatment for male and female problems, plus primary care for hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, vascular problems, etc.

The joint project unites efforts between MUSC’s College of Nursing, University Medical Associates (UMA) and the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. MUSC has awarded the clinic from $450,000 to $500,000, during the next three years to fund the program.

The teaming of Joseph Floyd Manor and College of Nursing is part of an active, long-term relationship since the 1980s. Each year, residents and nursing students participate in health screenings and limited clinical care activities. Project Sugar nursing manager Ida Spruill worked with Floyd Manor residents as a graduate student in nursing school. She was instrumental in recognizing a need for continual primary care for many of the disabled and elderly residents.

“Something was lacking in support of good continuous care,” said Spruill. “These folks had a lot of needs that were still unmet.”

The Healthy Aging Project prompts continual collaboration between skilled nurse practioners, physicians, occupational therapists, pharmacy personnel, nutritionists, dental professionals and psychiatric therapists who support the clinic. A crew of three nurse practitioners, a nurse midwife, clinical receptionist and geriatric outreach worker work at the clinic. Once a week, one of two physicians visits the clinic for consultations. On Wednesdays, three gero-psych nurse clinicians see patients at the clinic.

Reports have confirmed that a great number of poor, elderly South Carolinians—many living below the poverty level, reside in Charleston. Many of these defined populations live within Joseph Floyd Manor and Brighton Place, located near Citadel Mall in the West Ashley area. Both subsidized housing areas are operated by the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (CCHRA). Both areas lie within close proximity to Charleston’s Enterprise community, an urban, low-income residential area located west of peninsular Charleston between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers.

The Joseph Floyd Manor clinic will provide basic health care options to residents who have no regular physician or primary care provider. The use of a geriatric technician follows similar health education programs in Allendale and Denmark, two South Carolina rural towns.

“Most of today’s elderly or poor populations receive ‘fractured’ medical care where the emergency room becomes their primary provider,” said Barbara Haight, Dr.P.H., chairwoman of health professions and community care and author of the Healthy Aging grant proposal. “Our focus is to provide whole, coordinated care where our nurse practitioners can consult with physicians and other specialists to refer patients to the appropriate agencies.”

The presence of basic medical care within a residential area helps to support a growing trend of making primary care convenient to patients. Overall, the idea is cost effective by introducing preventive measures which help in early detection and education.

Perhaps the biggest misconception is that the program provides a steady, convenient concept of an in-house clinic. Although it is not designed to replace an individual’s current primary provider, it will complement a participant’s existing plan to provide good primary care to those who have none.

“It’s typical to sense an established loyalty which may exist between patient and physician,” Spruill emphasized. “Most elderly people don’t want to deal with losing something that’s comfortable.”

After three months, the Healthy Aging program continues to do well. Haight is currently exploring opportunities to expand the project to surrounding Charleston-area communities. She’s also establishing a similar program which will provide primary care services for residents in the Johns Island area.

Geriatric technician has a heart for the elderly

by Cindy Abole, Public Relations

Sonia Olson's smile is ready for anyone.

Resident Juanita Hogan, left, looks to geriatric technician Sonia Olson as her ‘guardian angel’ at Joseph Floyd Manor. Olson brings her smile and compassionate personality to many disabled and elderly people.

Not only is her smile part of her trademark, but it's helped her gain the trust, respect and friendship of many strangers. It's even softened the hearts of 200 elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged residents living in subsidized housing areas in Charleston.

Olson, is part of a team of dedicated nursing and other health care professionals affiliated with the Healthy Aging Project, an MUSC Healthy South Carolina Initiative program. The three-year grant-funded project, provides health care alternatives for residents of Joseph Floyd Manor and Brighton Place in downtown Charleston.

“Our residents need special attention when it comes to their medical care and improving their quality of life,” said Marjorie McManus, clinical director and women's health provider for the Joseph Floyd Manor clinic.

As a geriatric technician assigned to serve the residents in Floyd Manor and Brighton Place, Olson is a vital link to the project's success. She visits clients talking and listening to their problems and rejoicing in their success. She also evaluates medical needs and daily necessities. Olson also performs limited clinical tasks like recording vital signs and administering blood pressure tests, and glucose screenings.

“Many people don't have the heart to do what I do,” said Olson. “People can sense when they're dealing with a caring, understanding person. I've accepted that a lot of these people have had hard lives. It's typical for them to think nobody cares.”

But Olson does care. When she is not busy making rounds at Floyd Manor and Brighton Lace, she's out running errands twice a week picking up prescriptions or shuttling elderly residents to medical appointments at MUSC and other downtown clinics.

Throughout the Lowcountry, few services exist to support the elderly or disabled living around subsidize housing areas. Many of these residents are unable to ride the bus or make appointments or seek convenient health care.

On average, reports show that elderly people can harbor one or more chronic illnesses, simultaneously. This makes basic care and early detection methods vital for treating common geriatric medical ailments such as foot problems, hypertension, sight difficulties and other diseases.

Today, residents can attend to basic primary care problems through the College of Nursing's clinic located in the penthouse of Floyd Manor. The clinic is staffed by nurse practitioner's who work with other interdisciplinary professionals and physicians in approving protocols and providing consultations for some patients.

“A lot of people don't appreciate that the clinic is here and convenient for us,” said 63-year old Dallas Parrish, a Joseph Floyd Manor resident with chronic emphysema. “I don't have to go out and fight the rain, bad weather or other transportation problems to see the doctor.” Olson visits Parrish twice a week to help monitor blood pressure, medication and daily care.

“Although the clinic is not meant to replace an individual's current health care provider, it does provide immediate, supplemental care,” said Barbara Haight, Dr. P.H., chairwoman of health professionals and community care and Healthy Aging grant proposal author. “The program will help us identify neighborhood health concerns through action plans which will ultimately improve community health.”

Olson remembers when Juanita Hogan, an elderly resident whose breathing is aided by oxygen, needed a wheelchair to get around. Olson contacted the Ladies Benevolent Society who donated a wheelchair with an armrest and oxygen bottle holder at no cost. Today, Hogan refers to Olson as her guardian angel. “Sonia's visits mean a lot to me,” Hogan said. “She's helped to make my life easier.”

Olson also checks on many elderly and disabled residents at Brighton Place who need additional support like Meals on Wheels and other community resources.

It wasn't long ago when Olson, herself, was the product of another successful South Carolina initiative program joining the College of Nursing with Agape Ministries' Innovative Women's Project. As the mother of two boys, ages 6 and 9 years old, Olson overcame her personal struggles and discovered valuable attributes through a program which emphasizes success through character building and self-esteem.

“I love being around older people,” Olson said. “Somehow God has put me into this position to help others. It's helped me to learn how to care for others by focusing on goals. I love waking up every morning and actually look forward to going to work. It's been a long time since I felt this good about any job.”