July 8, 2002

With a long history of caring for the community beyond the hospital's main campus, the MGH recently launched a program that focuses on a specific population in nearby neighborhoods. Called MGH Senior HealthWISE (wellness, involvement, support and education), the program is meant to improve the health and well-being of seniors living in the Beacon Hill and West End areas.

Staffing the program are a nurse practitioner, Frank Bellistri, RN-CS, GNP; a resource specialist, Lindy Wilks; program director, Barbara Moscowitz, MSW, LICSW; and administrator Shelley Amira, MPH.

The program includes wellness centers that are available one afternoon a week at three senior housing developments – the Beacon House, the Blackstone Apartments and the Amy Lowell House. According to Moscowitz, the centers offer health information to help enhance the medical attention seniors already receive from their primary care physicians or visiting nurses.

Clockwise from upper left, Amira, Bellistri, Moscowitz and Wilks.

"These wellness centers give seniors an opportunity to discuss medical and social issues and help them better manage their health care in collaboration with their own physicians," she says. "Medical care for seniors is often complicated. At the centers, seniors can get advice and direction from our nurse practitioner, who then will communicate with their physicians as needed."

In addition, the Senior HealthWISE program offers the services of a resource specialist who helps seniors access community resources that will assist them in their everyday lives. Such resources include home delivery of meals, transportation services and assistance with getting insurance coverage for medications.

Senior HealthWISE staff members also are building relationships with community agencies – such as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston Senior HomeCare and Match-up Interfaith Volunteers – to offer even more services to seniors such as medical escorts, walking clubs and other health education opportunities.

Educational seminars on a range of topics from diet and exercise to managing blood pressure also will be presented at the three senior residence facilities. In addition, seminars will be held on the hospital's main campus for all community seniors. The on-campus offerings include the hospital's Senior Supper Club, which gives seniors an opportunity to dine at the hospital's Eat Street Cafe at a discounted rate. "We have such tremendous resources within the hospital and within the community to help seniors live and adapt to a healthy and functional lifestyle," says Moscowitz.

For more information about the program, call (617) 724-6756.