Prevention the key as SCU Health Clinic offers free health checks for Seniors Week

Seniors in the Northern Rivers community can take advantage of free general health checks, including type 2 diabetes assessments, when the Southern Cross University Health Clinic sets up a mobile stall at Lismore Square shopping centre on Friday March 20.

The health initiative, in collaboration with Lismore Square, is part of NSW Seniors Week.

Seniors will be able to visit the mobile SCU Health Clinic stall and get free general health checks with nursing students, osteopathy students or naturopathy students – all supervised by a qualified registered nurse (RN) – or have a chat to a qualified social worker. The service will be available between 10am and 2pm.

Participants will also be given a $20 voucher to redeem on a follow-up visit to the SCU Health Clinic at the University’s Lismore campus.

“Seniors can discuss their needs with a registered nurse or an osteopathy or naturopathy student and they can discuss any general concerns with a social worker, who will be measuring stress levels,” said Marlene Assim, SCU Health Clinic manager.

“Many Australians, particularly those over 40, are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and poor nutrition. We know lifestyle choices can prevent or, at least, delay the onset of type 2 diabetes so that is why we are providing that assessment, too.”

Ms Assim said good health was about prevention as well as cure.

“It’s about preventative health care: it’s about looking after yourself; it’s about lifestyle; it’s about diet; it’s about exercise; it’s about advice on alcohol, stress and cigarettes. It’s becoming aware of what’s available because a lot of the time people don’t know how to access these things. It’s an awareness about general health and prevention.

“We will be giving information to seniors about the full range of services available at the SCU Health Clinic, not only the services offered by our students but also our private practitioners, our GP services and how the Clinic works and how it is accessible to anybody regardless of whether they have health insurance or not. There are many pathways into the Clinic to seek advice or service.”

Visit the SCU Health Clinic website for information about the services available.

Event:
Free general health checks at mobile SCU Health Clinic
Lismore Square shopping centre
Friday March 20
10am – 2pm

Photo: SCU Health Clinics, at Lismore and the Gold Coast, provide quality allied health services.