For the last several years, HealthPorte has been offering a program for seniors ages 50+ in order to provide them with a space to have fun and become educated about wellness. The program is offered once a month at La Porte Hospital and once a quarter at Starke Hospital. The program is also offered at Porter Regional Hospital. The programs are free to anyone who wants to attend.
To kick off La Porte Hospital’s chapter of HealthPorte this year, Community Relations Coordinator, Jennifer Spitz, wanted to get feedback from attendees to make this year the best one yet in terms of speakers, events, and themes for their HealthPorte goers.
“We wanted to bring everyone together to have fun while getting to know each other a little better; we have members in and out all the time,” Spitz said. “It’s just nice to be able to start the year on a casual note.”
From first-time attendees to seasoned veterans and everyone in between, the seniors enjoyed a laid-back lunch and treats while conversing with one another. In fact, Spitz states that the simplicity of gathering together for breakfast or lunch and having a chat is one of the groups’ favorite things to do.
“In years past we’ve had some different entertainment like a chorus or a caricature painter, but based on the feedback that I gathered, they just like talking with each other, playing games, and enjoying each other’s company,” Spitz said.
The typical format for a HealthPorte meeting is a provided breakfast followed by a speaker, often a local physician. The goal of HealthPorte is to help seniors explore healthy living activities, meet new people, and stay active.
“We want to provide education to the seniors about health and prevention,” Spitz said. “We also want to make sure that they have the resources and knowledge to stay healthy way past age 50.”
Overall, La Porte Hospital wants to ensure the community that they are available to help everyone who might have questions about health and wellness.
“In general, our goal is to let our patients know that we are the resource for education and not just when they’re sick,” Spitz said. “We want them to know they can turn to us at any point with questions and know that there is someone who can help, especially in the age of googling our symptoms.”
For more information and to sign up for HeathPorte’s mailing list, visit www.laportehealth.com.
