Nursing’s Health & Wellness Center for Older Adults Earns Prestigious Award

A team of retired nurses, led by a School of Nursing clinical professor and endowed chair holder, has received the Public Service Team Award of the Jefferson Awards, becoming regional winners in the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for volunteerism.

Dr. Lenore K. Resick, executive director of the School of Nursing Community-Based Health & Wellness Center for Older Adults, and a cadre of dedicated volunteer nurses were recognized as regional winners in the Jefferson Awards, presented on May 6 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Resick, who also holds the Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Community Outreach, initially saw an opportunity to offer convenient nursing care to seniors who might be at ease in friendly, confidential, one-on-one situations that would allow them to fully understand their health conditions and consequences without traveling to a doctor’s office—and to routinely keep tabs on their status.

For eight years, Resick and the Retired Nurses Working in Neighborhoods (RN+WIN), have been providing residents at urban senior centers around the city with personalized health assessments, blood pressure screenings, tips on managing chronic diseases and clear explanations about medications and blood work.

The volunteer nurses provide care to approximately 750 older adults at more than 2,000 nursing center visits in 10 Pittsburgh neighborhoods each year, Resick said.

“As nurses, our lives are dedicated to caring for other people—and, through this program, you can see that the caring doesn’t stop with nurses in retirement,” Resick said. “We’re very proud of the work our volunteers do to contribute to better health outcomes in our own community, and we’re extremely pleased that others have recognized their dedication, commitment and impact.”

Those interested in learning more about the program may contact Resick.