Gerald Pendergraft is a regular user of the Choosing Wellness program Thursday mornings at the Cactus Centre. Pictured here, retired nurse Elli Jakubovskis checks Pendergraft’s blood pressure. (Richard McGuire photo)
When the Choosing Wellness program resumed its season of Thursday mornings at the Cactus Centre last week, there were only a few seniors enjoying a coffee and a chat.
Retired nurse Elli Jakubovskis, 91, was checking the blood pressure of Gerald Pendergraft, 81.
Pendergraft is one of the local residents using the program that encourages health monitoring each Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The program runs from mid-September to the end of May. The Cactus Centre is located behind the Splash Park at Jack Shaw Gardens.
It doesn’t get busy until the snowbirds arrive, normally in October, when as many as 40 or 50 or more people show up throughout the morning.
Jakubovskis has been volunteering with the program since it started in 1989. She is one of eight retired nurses who volunteer. Bea Becker is another who has been there since the beginning.
Jakubovskis is very fit for 91.
She walks from the downtown area to the Cactus Centre and she doesn’t look her age.
“I don’t know if they’re going to kick me out, but so far they haven’t said anything,” she jokes.
Sharon Krenn, the co-ordinator, thinks many local seniors still don’t know about Choosing Wellness, despite the fact that it’s been running for 28 years. She’s puzzled why so few locals come out, even as the program is so popular with snowbirds.
“I just wish we could get more local people,” she said.
Volunteers weight the participants and check their blood pressure weekly, recording the results in a booklet that people can keep and make available to their doctor.
It’s no substitute for a visit to the doctor, but nurses can look for possible problems, give some advice and tell people when a trip to the doctor might be a good idea.
Pendergraft is enjoying his visit. After his blood pressure test shows he’s doing well as usual, he gets a neck massage from Lorna McKay.
“It loosens the neck muscles,” he said. “That’s where she works – on the back of the neck.”
The former cattle rancher, who’s not sure that the word “retired” fits him because he still keeps very busy, has been coming to Choosing Wellness for almost as long as the program has been around.
He knows most of the regulars, but sometimes there are new people.
“You get to know our locals here,” he said. “I knew them for years.”
He’s also gotten to know many of the snowbirds.
Pendergraft said he has no idea why more locals don’t come.
“A lot of locals should come,” he said. “There used to be more locals, but a lot of them have either gotten too old or passed away. Where else can you get for a dollar your blood pressure checked, a massage, cookies and coffee?”
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
After getting his blood pressure checked, Gerald Pendergraft gets a relaxing shoulder massage from Lorna McKay. He also attends Choosing Wellness on Thursday mornings at the Cactus Centre for a chance to talk with other seniors over coffee and cookies. (Richard McGuire photo)
Gerald Pendergraft is a regular user of the Choosing Wellness program Thursday mornings at the Cactus Centre. Pictured here, retired nurse Elli Jakubovskis checks Pendergraft’s blood pressure. (Richard McGuire photo)
