Benefis Health System will break ground Thursday on an innovative project that aims to bridge care gaps for patients who want to stay fit, sharp, and active during their senior years.
The Healthy Aging Center will be built over the next 18 months or so along 10th Avenue South as part of Benefis East Campus near the Women’s and Children’s Center. The groundbreaking will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, with short remarks from those involved with the project.
The 15,000-square-foot outpatient clinic will address issues of nutrition, medication, cognitive health, and mobility with dedicated specialists focusing on prevention and adaptations. Patients will be able to see specialists in related fields such as audiology at the center instead of trying to navigate the larger system and will work with a patient navigator to help further simplify healthcare and ensure better follow-up.
While traditionally healthcare resources have focused on caring for the frail elderly and those with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, little has been invested in healthier aging.
Benefis aims to upend that model by bringing together geriatric specialists and services focused on supporting health maintenance through aging to promote patients’ continued independence.
Five years from now, a quarter of Montana’s population will be 65 or older, which will make Montana among the six states with the oldest population. That adds to the urgency of this unique project.
This year, Mayfaire, Benefis Foundation’s annual fundraiser, will help raise money for the Healthy Aging Center. Events kick off with a golf tournament Friday, May 2, and wrap up with a gala on Saturday.
Author: Staff
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