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Beebe To Bring Bone Density Screenings to Church Health Event

10/24/07

Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth Beach will hold a health seminar to take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, November 5. The focus of the event is to screen for osteoporosis and to help seniors avoid falls, explains organizer and church member Karen McDonald.

"We know that falls are so dangerous for those in our senior population and we want to bring as much information as we can to help them maintain their health," she says, adding that the event is open to the public. "We especially want to emphasize that osteoporosis and debilitating falls can happen to men, as well as women."

Beebe Medical Center registered nurses Marie Berntsen, RN, ONC, and Dot Chimienti, RN, CNOR, ONC, will do bone screenings, which take only a few minutes and can identify osteoporosis, a serious health concern that can lead to fractures and cause long-term disability.

Beebe Medical Center Physical Therapist Roseanne Schneider, PT, will share information about the Berg Balance and Fall Risk Assessment, a simple test that can help identify whether someone is at risk of falling. Mrs. McDonald said that those attending the event will be able to make appointments for these assessments, which take about 15 minutes, for a date in the future.

Roseanne Schneider also will demonstrate Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese marshal art known to improve and maintain balance, and as well as overall health. Information also will be available at the event on how to make the home safe from falls.

The church is located at 7 Bay Vista Road. The telephone number is (302) 227-3066. For more information about the Berg Balance Assessment, please call Marie Berntsen, R.N., Orthopaedic Services Coordinator with Beebe Medical Center at (302) 645-3623.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org.