First Posted: 11/12/2014
United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) received an $8,089 grant from The Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania to provide free cardiovascular disease education and screenings to seniors.
A projected 200 older adults will take part in the program, to be offered at four UNC Senior Centers in Lackawanna County. A registered nurse and public health professional will discuss cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and high cholesterol.
Participants will receive blood pressure screenings and work with a peer health educator to complete a Cardiovascular Risk profile. Any participant determined to be at high-risk will be given an automatic blood pressure cuff for self-monitoring, and a nurse advocate will follow-up regularly to track results and help schedule primary care appointments.