DEMAND RISES FOR WESLEYLIFE FLU VACCINE OUTREACH
This fall, WesleyLife will administer more than 8,000 seasonal flu vaccines, according to Linda Peacock, WesleyLife immunization manager. Those immunizations are administered to people ages 9 and up at numerous locations such as those offered at the Des Moines International Airport, Younkers retail stores and area businesses, churches and community groups. WesleyLife’s total immunization numbers also include a growing number of flu shots administered for people who receive Polk County public health or community-based services through WesleyLife.
“I’ve had more requests from all areas this year,” Peacock said. “There is a lot of interest this year about flu. The fact that there are two different vaccines and that both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines have been hard to come by has created a lot of interest and demand.”
Peacock stresses that it’s important that adults over the age of 65 have their yearly seasonal flu shot this year because they are at greater risk of complications from the seasonal flu. The first H1N1 doses are recommended for designated priority groups who are most likely to get infected and become very ill. Older adults are not included in the priority designation because they are the least likely group to get sick with H1N1 but will be able to get H1N1 vaccine after the high risk groups have been vaccinated. Those 65 years and older are prioritized for treatment with antiviral drugs this season if they do come down with H1N1 flu.
WesleyLife’s immunization nurses visit numerous low-income senior housing communities, nursing homes and private homes where the resident(s) are unable to get out making the seasonal vaccine available. This valuable service to the community is one example of WesleyLife’s commitment to helping people live healthier lives – wherever they call home.
This summer, WesleyLife embarked on a name change (Formerly Wesley Retirement Services) to better express its mission to help older adults live life more fully. Although residential retirement and lifestyle communities continue to be a priority, the organization has focused a significant amount of attention in recent years to reach out to the broader community by adding new services such as hospice care, Meals on Wheels, rehabilitative therapy and home health care.
If people have yet to receive flu shots, it’s not too late, Peacock said, because the peak of the flu season is typically not until around the first of the year. WesleyLife plans to receive another shipment of flu vaccines in mid-November and will then offer clinics at the Des Moines International Airport Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5:30-7:30 am and 1:00-4:30 pm.
About WesleyLife
WesleyLife (formerly Wesley Retirement Services Inc.) is a nonprofit organization with an emphasis on providing services to seniors in a Christian, caring way, while promoting optimum independence and an active lifestyle. WesleyLife owns and operates six continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) throughout Iowa (Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Halcyon House in Washington, Heritage House in Atlantic, Park Centre in Newton, The Village in Indianola, and Wesley’s newest community, Edgewater in West Des Moines). In addition, WesleyLife serves older Iowans at home and throughout the community with Wesley Community Services (Adult day centers in Des Moines and Newton; home care and health services in Des Moines, Ames, Indianola and Atlantic; Meals On Wheels in Des Moines and hospice and palliative care in Des Moines, Ames and Indianola). For more information about WesleyLife please visit the Web site at www.wesleylife.org