My sister Jennie pressured me to visit the Health Fare at Saints Joachim and Anne in Coney Island; and I’m glad she did. As health fairs go, it wasn’t the largest that I’ve been to, but by far it was the friendliest. It was a wonderful experience and it introduced me to the Saints Joachim and Anne Nursing and Rehabilitation Center located between the Boardwalk and Surf Avenue. With such a glorious view of the beach and ocean, I was sort of hesitant going indoors on this beautiful sunny afternoon on June 6th. The Health Fair was from 11 AM to 2 PM held in the lobby of this facility, which is an affiliate of Catholic Charities.
As soon as Jennie, Leo and I entered, we were greeted by the Director of Clinical Services, Terry D’Allessio, who previously met Jenny in Most Precious Blood Rectory looking to invite the neighboring communities to the Health Fair.
The Health Fair was abuzz with visitors, waiting to win prizes from the frequent raffles.
And in comparison to some Health Fairs I’ve been to, the prizes and Give-A ways I accumulated required a large shopping bag to haul them home. There were cloth bags of all sizes being given, bottled water, plastic water bottles, candy, cookies, neck bands, pens, pencils, post-em pads, brochures, fruit, nuts, I almost got a hernia carrying all that stuff home.
There was this one table with a couple of New York State Emergency Medical Service Technicians taking blood pressure readings. The younger EMS Mikhail Kadin took my pressure and from the look on his face, I saw a terrified concern. He asked me if I was feeling all right? I answered my usual stock answer “As long as I’m sitting down, I feel fine.” He then asked me if I felt tightness in my chest, any pain in my left arm? He was concerned that with my pressure reading 180/90 was dangerously high and took it again, the second time it was 170/100. From that point on, wherever I was in the Fair, I could see Mikhail watching me. Well if anyone going to get a heart attack, what better place to have it than in a well equipped Nursing Home with an EMS Technician monitoring your every move? Got to tell you though, his concern rattled me. I am taking medication for High Blood Pressure which I take religiously and reported his reading to my Doctor.
From the EMS table I went to the Mary Kay table where Eva Pendleton of Wise Hands, was giving hand “Massages for Wellness.” Who doesn’t like to get massaged? I love them and wanted more, so I went to a piece of equipment that you straddled from the rear. Terry made me jump the line, with the excuse of her having to take a photo of me getting a back rub. Ah! It was great!
I visited the front table where I got a blood reading of 132 and a 02 Saturation reading of 94% Hr + 65, and ate fruit, nuts and seeds. This was my pre-diet days and not having had any lunch, pigged out on anything that was edible. From there on in, I went to the other three tables collecting the free stuff, cards and goodies. The SeniorCare, Evercare, and Inspiris tables were giving out brochures, gifts as well as explaining their health care services.
As the Health Fare was closing, Leo and Jennie went upstairs to visit a neighbor who was recovering there. Me, not looking to walk any further than I had to, stayed in the lobby. Recalling the afternoon’s events, what struck me most was the friendliness of not only the vendors, but of all the Nursing Home staff that was there, especially Terry D’Allessio. Anyone interested in visiting this beautiful facility contact Tessie at 718 714-4800, ext 3051.
Screech at you next week!
