Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging celebrates 15 years

SOUTHINGTON – A New Britain retiree was overwhelmed by the demands of caring for her elderly parents. Her father, 90, had advancing dementia, while her mother, age 86, was struggling with being the primary caregiver. Because the stress was affecting her own health, Mary reached out to Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging to see if they could help. Following a home assessment with a resource coordinator and dementia specialist, recommendations were made including utilizing a private pay caregiver, Lifeline alert system, Mulberry Gardens Adult Day Center and other community services. With the assistance of such support services including monitoring by a transitional care nurse, the family was able to realize a better – and safer – quality of life over the course of 18 months.

“This patient story highlights Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and its ability to be a trusted reliable source of truth and help for seniors and their families,” said Wendy Martinson, director of Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, during the 15th anniversary celebration held Nov. 4 at The Orchards at Southington senior living community.

Since the first Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging opened on Sept. 14, 2004 at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Memorial campus, it has expanded to 11 locations with a 12th office slated to open in February 2020. “We are the only entity in the country offering the services that we offer under the Center for Healthy Aging umbrella,” Martinson said.

Over the past 15 years, the staff has grown to include resource coordinators, certified dementia practitioners, transitional care nurses, a certified wellness coach, CHOICES counselors, and geriatric care managers who coordinate a specialized plan incorporating community resources and services to address the needs of body and mind. In addition, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging has presented hundreds of educational programs and dementia caregivers support groups for the public and families.

“The Center continues to be pioneers in this person-centered, relationship-based approach rooted in mutual trust and respect for our clients and peers,” Martinson said.

“Our work is not done as we continue to evolve and develop into the Center for Healthy Aging of tomorrow so that we can better meet the needs of seniors in the future through technology and innovation,” said Lisa Connolly, vice president, Hartford HealthCare Community Network.

Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. Each of the 11 resource and assessment centers are designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, visit http://hhccenterforhealthyagin... or call 1.877.424.4641.