VA Butler Healthcare hosts women's program
CENTER TWP — Dozens of female veterans came together at the VA Butler Healthcare facility to celebrate the 5th annual Winter Women's Wellness event on Friday.
The Women's Health and Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Programs hosted the event at the new Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center auditorium on North Duffy Road for women veterans to learn more about VA programs and services, and to enjoy an afternoon of camaraderie, relaxation and wellness.
Nicole Thompson, Women Veteran's Program manager, said the event coincides with National Wear Red Day and the VA's Go Red initiative in partnership with the American Heart Association — which brings attention to the No. 1 killer of women, heart disease. The goal of the event is to prevent heart disease and strokes in women. Attendees were encouraged to wear red in solidarity.
“A lot of women present differently for heart attacks than men and so we would like to make them aware of their risk factors, their signs and symptoms,” she said.
“This is an educational event about how to take care of themselves because women have a tendency to put themselves on the back burner, so our goal is to make them aware of the things they should be doing for their own health.”
She said women have the tendency to focus more on the health of their families than themselves.
The event included a healthy meal cooking demonstration by Rachelle Lyons, VA dietitian and chef, as well as a demonstration in the wellness center of exercises, including a yoga demonstration, by a personal trainer at the facility.
Karen Dunn, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program manager, said the goal of the annual program is to get more women into the facility.“Our No. 1 goal is trying to get more women to come to the VA,” she said. “Our main purpose is to reach out to our women veterans. we have the numbers, we just don't have them coming in.” From 800 invitations mailed out, she said about 40 people participated Friday.“There are a lot of female veterans who are not enrolled in VA services,” she said. “Our goal is to get them in here and keep them healthy.”She said more programs will be offered throughout the month, including blood pressure screenings, a “Walk a Mile for Heart Health” event and presentations by representatives of the American Heart Association.The event included informational tables about programs and benefits for women veterans.Jessie Truitt, a veteran and advocate, gave a talk on the Military Sexual Trauma group, which was started three years ago.Patricia O'Kane, interim director, also spoke.
