Cheri Fiola loves being with older people, and her job is a perfect fit. As block nurse for both Hamline Midway Elders and the Como Park Living at Home/Block Nurse Program, she spends her days helping to ensure that seniors stay healthy while remaining at home.

The program

The first block nurse program was created in 1981 by six women living in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul who were concerned about their senior neighbors. What emerged from their discussions was a unique program model that coordinates volunteers and health professionals from the community to help older neighbors age at home.

Today, there are 41 programs throughout the state, along with one in North Dakota. Each program is different, but the goal is always the same: to help elders continue living safely in their own homes.

A day in the life

To provide nursing care for seniors in their neighborhood, both the Como Park and Hamline Midway programs contract with the Wilder Foundation's Home Health Agency. Fiola, who is employed by the agency, provides home healthcare for a total of 67 elders, most of whom are in their 90s. On a typical day, she starts the morning with a visit to a woman who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because the woman also has diabetes and congestive heart failure, her condition must be closely monitored.

Next she stops in to see a woman who needs an injection of vitamin B12. This is followed by brief visits to four clients to monitor and set up their medications for the next few days.

In the afternoon, Fiola may run a blood pressure clinic at a neighborhood church, visit several more clients who need blood drawn for lab work and meet with home health aides.

A great job!

In addition, Fiola regularly consults with program staff and volunteers, and teaches classes for neighborhood elders on topics like diabetes, foot care, blood thinners and dehydration.

"Older people have so many great stories and so much to give and teach," Fiola says. "This is a great job - it's one that's worth getting out of bed for every morning."

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer from St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.