Lowcountry Senior Center Reaches Out To Chronically Ill
Center Awarded $283,000 In Federal Grant Money

The Lowcountry Senior Center has received a $283,000 multi-year grant to offer expanded programs and support to seniors learning to live with and effectively manage a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging chose the Center as one of only three sites in the state and the only site in the Lowcountry to implement the "Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management Course."

The six week self-help program teaches people living with chronic disease a number of skills, including ways to manage their illness and the symptoms, stress management, how to talk to their doctor and family, what to expect after diagnosis and how to develop an action plan.

"When someone is diagnosed with a chronic disease they often feel out of control. This program aims to give participants the tools they need to feel empowered and in control of their illness, as well as a support group to lean on," said Ledford.

The Center will receive $283,333 for just under three years to run the program and train group leaders to lead the classes. The goal is to train 10 to 15 group leaders the first year. Support from the Roper St. Francis Foundation helped secure the grant money.

"We've offered these classes in the past thanks to money received through the Duke Endowment Grant starting back in 2004. This new grant will give the program a boost, allowing us to not only continue it, but expand it and offer classes at a number of different sites across the tri-county area," said Jill Jackson Ledford, Lowcountry Senior Center Executive Director.

"Research has shown that when people can effectively manage a chronic illness it reduces the need for hospital visits and lowers the number of incidents in which medications are used inappropriately. People who have gone through the program have had great results," said Ledford.

The program is free and open to seniors in the tri-county area living with a chronic illness. Classes will be held at various locations still to be determined, around the tri-county area. They begin in January. For information on class locations, dates and times, please call 402-CARE (2273).

The Lowcountry Senior Center is located adjacent to James Island County Park. The goal of the Center is to promote health and wellness, control stress, reduce depression and anxiety, and lower the cost of healthcare for people 50 years old and up. Under the leadership of Executive Director Jill Jackson Ledford, The Lowcountry Senior Center has been recognized for numerous achievements. It was the first senior center to achieve accreditation in the state and was recognized as a "Geriatric Best Practice" by the South Carolina Hospital Association and SAGE Institute. In 2005, the Center distinguished itself with yet another national honor. The Center was recognized as the nation’s top "Senior Wellness & Fitness Program" when it received the NuStep Pinnacle Award for excellence in wellness programming for seniors.

From exercise classes, to art workshops, movies, day trips and health and medical seminars, the Senior Center provides a wide variety of activities to suit many interests. All of the programs offered by the Center contribute to the overall belief of wellness defined as having six dimensions: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational.

The Senior Center is a place for people to connect, through social, intellectual and physical activities.

For more information on the Lowcountry Senior Center, please call 762-9555.