Seniors Receive Free Vascular Screening

By Susan Coney

More than 90 seniors over the age of 60 took advantage of the free vascular health screenings made available to them last Friday at the Newtown Senior Center. Funds provided by the State Department of Social Services allowed the free screenings to take place.

Care Management Coordinator and registered nurse Marion Pollack headed up the event with the help of co-coordinator, Reverend Leo McIlrath. Ms Pollack works for Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (WCAAA), located at 84 Progress Lane in Waterbury, which sponsored the screening. Ms Pollack said, “Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging is a very unique organization in that we are senior oriented as well as younger disabled.” She stressed the need to educate people about their health.

Seniors attending the screening were subjected to four separate evaluations: stroke/carotid artery screening, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening, peripheral arterial disease screening and osteoporosis screening. All procedures were non-invasive and performed by technicians from Life Line Screening.

Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening visualizes the buildup of fatty plaque in the carotid arteries, which can lead to a stroke. The technician applied an acoustic gel on the neck over the carotid arteries. A painless instrument, a transducer, was used to visualize the inside of the carotid artery.

For abdominal aortic aneurysm screening the technologist applied an acoustic gel to the abdomen and again used a transducer to visualize the aorta, checking for any abnormality that could lead to a rupture.

During the peripheral arterial disease screening blood pressure cuffs and a doppler ultrasound probe were used on arms and ankles to detect blood flow to the lower extremities.

For the osteoporosis screening the technician placed the patients foot in an ultrasound unit, the bone density of the heel was then measured with ultrasound. Osteoporosis testing checks for any abnormal bone mass density in men and women. Osteoporosis is painless and silent in its early stages.

In the recent past Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging sponsored a hearing and podiatry screening. On Tuesday, May 24 WCAAA will sponsor an oral/dental and vision screening. The event will be held at the Newtown Senior Center on Riverside Road and begins at 9 am.