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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2020)
The University of Washington developed PEARLS in the 1990s. Community Connection of Northeast Oregon offers the program for free. For more information on PEARLS, call Community Connection at 541-963-3186 or go to www.ccno.org/health-promotions/pearls/. PEARLS Continued from page 5 more vulnerable to isolation, which can contribute to depression. Lack of transportation also can compound the problem. PEARLS counselors work with clients to make sure they are aware of Community Connection’s trans- portation services. Ganung said the isolation seniors sometimes feel worsen when family members do not call often. PEARLS counselors may encourage clients to be proactive and not wait by the phone hoping someone will call and instead to reach out to their sons and daughters and set up good times to talk. “The phone works both ways,” Ganung said. PEARLS counselors also work to help seniors get involved in volunteer activities. “Volunteering is a remedy for depression,” Ganung said. “It improves how the brain functions. It is a whole body experience.” Some seniors who experience depression may be hesi- tant to seek help because they do not want others to know that they are suffering from this condition. Ganung said seniors working with PEARLS counselors should not feel concerned about this. She explained the counselors make home visits in a regular vehicle with no special identifica- tion and when visiting Community Connection offices, it is not evident the clients are seeking help for depression because the agency offers so many other services. Ganung said many people do not realize seniors may be facing depression because they are not bound by the constraints of a job. “They think they have lots of free time,” Ganung said, and therefore have less worries. The reality, though, is retired people often are isolated because they are not working. They do not have a place where they can meet people regularly like they could when they were working, she said, noting work can pro- vide a family-like atmosphere. Ganung said while some people experience depression year-round, some are more prone to it during the winter because days are shorter and it is often not safe to go outside because of snow and ice. Regardless of the time of year, PEARLS volunteers focus on teaching seniors how to help themselves. “We don’t do the work for you,” Ganung said. “We help you do it for yourself.” Baker County Health Department Services Available WIC (Women, Infants,Children) COMMUNICABLE DISEASE • Supplemental Foods • Nutritional Education • Breastfeeding Support • Referrals • Reporting & Investigations • Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections IMMUNIZATIONS • RN Home Visiting Services • Birth & Death Certificates (up to 6 months) OTHER SERVICES • Childhood Immunizations • Adult Immunizations REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH • Birth Control Methods • Pregnancy Testing • Annual Physical Exams • Education TESTING • Sexually Transmitted Infections • Tuberculosis (TB) • Water (Kits Available) SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER Services available to all school-age students in Baker County & North Powder. Call 541-524-2646 Referrals • Sliding fee based on income for some programs Baker County Health Department 3330 Pocahontas Road, Baker City • 541-523-8211 • www.bakercounty.org • www.facebook.com/BCHDfan Baker County Health Department is available to all, that no individual is excluded from participation, denied benefits, or subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion, culture and/or financial status. 6 2020 Northeast Oregon Health & Wellness Guide
