CityView Magazine

54 | October • 2014 health Better Health of Cumberland County BY SARA COOKE I f people asked me what I thought I'd be doing at my age, I'd never have thought I'd say 'downward dog.' But here I am, today, doing just that. Floretta Lester is a Cumberland County resident who suffered a back injury that required surgery back in 2011, at which time she began at- tending yoga classes at Better Health of Cumberland County, free of charge. Lester is now a class regular, stating sim- ply, "My experience with Better Health has really been great." She continued, "I've never seen any [employee or volunteer] be unkind. ey get to know you on a personal level, and times when I have been sick or couldn't make it to class, I've gotten a phone call to check in." Exercise classes are only one of many initiatives Better Health offers to locals who struggle to pay for important health care needs. e organization was founded in 1958 on the premise that many people leave the hospital with pre- scriptions and a doctor's recommendation for medical sup- plies that they simply cannot afford. is remains a key com- ponent to what they do today, but that mission has expanded as they now "seek to provide for the unmet healthcare needs of Cumberland County residents through assistance, referral and education." What isn't specifically ad- dressed in their mission is that every ser- vice Better Health offers is provided at zero cost to the individual. ough the organization's founding purpose has evolved and grown, today it still focuses on filling emergency prescrip- tions and meeting immediate medical needs. It also assists patients who require critical medication for ongoing issues such as heart disease, diabetes and even dental health. Judy Klinck, Better Health's Executive Director and a dental hygienist by trade, explained how this is accomplished: "ose in emergency situations who were just released from the hospital and can't afford medication they need today, can come to us. We partner with the Cum- berland County Medication Access Pro- gram who makes sure the patients get their hands on what they require in the short term as well as down the line." Diabetes assistance programs were added in 1977 and continue to be one of Better Health's primary agendas. Local diabetics are encouraged to participate in of their lifestyle or exercise programs, but are certain- ly not required to attend them all. First are the education classes, which stress lifestyle management, heavily focusing on diet. "We don't downplay the power of medication and encourage patients to speak with doctors," assured Klinck, "but to- day we understand that obesity is one of the big- gest factors in the development of diabetes, as well as heart disease and other issues, and we need to address that." To that end, Better Health runs exercise classes, like yoga and tai chi, which are open to all activity levels, simply teach- ing and encouraging patients to get moving. ese classes are not limited to those suffering from diabetes, but are open to anyone. Locals in the community like Floretta Lester are able to make their bodies stronger and healthier, while having fun. "A unique aspect of our program is the diabetes monitor- ing clinic. Run by our nurses, anyone can come to get their blood pressure, blood glucose, or weight checked." e nurses are available 11 hours a week, said Klinck, for the above-men- tioned services, but also for private conversation and advice if the patient desires it. ere's also a 30-minute small group educational portion of the pro- gram: "It's not a support group but of- fers a lot of support for folks who may not have anyone to talk to about what they're going through," Klinck ex- plained, "It's absolutely dynamic and not something I know of anyone nearby offering." Finally, Take Charge of Diabetes is their comprehensive management pro- gram, and is the only service Better Health offers that requires pre-registra- tion. All other programs are available to Cumberland County residents on a walk-in basis. Local nonprofit fulfills unmet health needs of Cumberland County residents Photo by Jen Tarbox Floretta Lester

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