Clara Maass Medical Center, Nutley, Team Up For Senior Citizen Wellness Program

Editor’s Note: The following article was contributed by a Patch reader.

Nutley senior citizens will now have access to wellness assessments held at community-based settings and senior housing facilities through the Wellness Assessment Van for Elders (WAVE) Program.

Officials from Clara Maass Medical Center and the Township of Nutley recently joined together at the Department of Health in Nutley Township to introduce WAVE to local residents.

Funded by a grant from The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, the WAVE Program brings annual wellness visits into the community at no cost to eligible seniors ages 65 and older. Although annual wellness visits are a preventive health benefit that has been covered by Medicare since 2011, statistics show only about 10 percent of seniors receive the benefit each year.

Through the WAVE Program, the administrations in the Township of Nutley and at Clara Maass Medical Center plan to increase that number as a way to help improve health outcomes.

Each visit includes time for seniors to talk about their overall physical health; a review of their vital signs, health habits and risk factors; and simple screenings including memory, heart and nerve functions, balance, bone density, circulation and mental health.

WAVE visits do not require doctor’s referrals or pre-approval from an insurance provider. Seniors must bring their Medicare card, as eligibility is confirmed before the visit begins. All are also encouraged to bring a list of their current medications, supplements and vitamins. Each senior will receive a personalized, easy-to-understand report that he or she can take to future medical appointments.

Upcoming visits for the WAVE van include: senior residences and community-based organizations in Kearny, Newark, Lyndhurst and Bloomfield.

For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.barnabashealth.org/claramaass.