Dr. Jeryl Parmenter recently joined the staff at PACE GNO, an affiliated ministry of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, which provides a comprehensive network of social services to connect clients living in eight civil parishes within the archdiocese to resources that empower them and their families to thrive and remain living at home.<\/p>\n
PACE GNO acts as a springboard to self-sufficiency for those 55 and older struggling with health and daytime care issues. PACE currently has two locations and provides transportation to and from doctor appointments and each site: the Benson Center at St. Cecilia in Bywater New Orleans, and Hope Haven at St. John Bosco on Barataria Boulevard in Marrero<\/p>\n
The Clarion Herald asked Dr. Parmenter about her background and PACE services. She was born in Oklahoma and has worked with seniors, first as an RN in intensive care at different facilities. She also has taught and mentored students and residents of Lake Erie Osteopathic Medical School and spent 26 years serving seniors and also female veterans at Women\u2019s Clinic of North Carolina, in the Florida Healthcare Systems and in private practice.<\/p>\n
She first came to New Orleans in 2007 and fell in love with the city and its people. She has practiced locally at federally qualified health centers, such as Daughters of Charity in New Orleans and another healthcare company.<\/p>\n
You said you believe the medical field is one of service and that using the osteopathic way of treating seniors is most beneficial because you do more than prescribe medicine.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s treating health a little more holistically, to help patients understand how to take medicine properly. No matter how you look on the outside, you are the same on the inside. The older generation has given us so much.<\/p>\n What can PACE offer to seniors who have little money and now are trying to live on Social Security?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The things that PACE can do with patients are miraculous. PACE wraps its arms around the patients and families, and we try to give them what they need to stay in their home and be successful. Doctors and nurses are accessible by phone beyond weekday hours. We do whatever it is the patients and families need. PACE strives to meet the needs of the community differently than most senior care centers. There\u2019s an individualized approach to care planning and services needed by the community at both the PACE centers and in the home by offering in-home care. PACE contracts with hospitals and care providers outside of the center to meet those secondary care goals.<\/p>\n Do you have any ideas about doing things differently or adding new services at PACE?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n PACE GNO has actually instituted many procedural and departmental changes, such as recently enlarging the well-care area so that physical activity is easily accessed by those who are independently going to the wellness center for physical maintenance. (PACE GNO has also increased its physical and occupational therapy equipment.) This has been quite successful in helping those who have\u00a0dealt with rehabilitation efforts by strengthening muscles after a change-of-life instance such as a fall or stroke. In fact, PACE has seen several participants improve to the point of being able to transfer from their wheelchair to their bed or chair on their own due to physical therapy concentrated on building upper-body strength.<\/span><\/p>\n