Benefis Goodnow Healthy Aging Center Opens Oct. 5

A vision of a different destiny for the rapidly growing population of older Montanans has guided the development of the Benefis Goodnow Healthy Aging Center, which opened in Great Falls to rave reviews in October.

"One of the greatest fears people have is ending up in a nursing home," Benefis Health System CEO John Goodnow said. "The best way to prevent that is to stay healthy and to hold onto your mobility so you can remain independent."

Donors contributed nearly $3 million toward establishing the center, which represents a marked - and hopeful - departure from traditional American healthcare.

"Most health systems are focused on people who are injured and sick, with advanced dementia or broken hips. American healthcare needs to work more on keeping people healthy," Goodnow said. "That's what's new about this approach."

The 15,000-square-foot outpatient clinic houses two tracks based on scientific wellness, with advanced assessments so a multidisciplinary team can work together with a patient on a plan that is predictive, preventative, and personalized.

One patient pathway is designed to improve the quality of senior health, and the other is focused on longevity for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of their health.

How to Be Involved: You don't need a physician referral to take part in a healthy aging program. When you call 406-731-8660 or stop by the center at 2800 10th Ave. S. in Great Falls, you'll be connected with a staff member who can help you find the best route to suit your needs, means, and motivation.

What's the Goodnow Healthy Aging Center about? The center's pillars are nutrition, mobility, mind, medication, mood, and motivation, all in pursuit of a better quality of life in aging and longevity. Each component plays a role in your health and begins with testing.

Nutrition: A culinary medicine program focuses on better, easier nutrition. Participants can meet with the center's dietitian. Fiddle Fork in the center's lobby offers grab-and-heat meals and meal kits, as well as some seasonings and other dry goods. Fiddle Fork is available to anyone in the Great Falls community. You don't need to be a patient or of a certain age. The meals are designed for the MIND diet, a research-backed plan that supports brain and heart health.

Mobility: The Goodnow Healthy Aging Center has a physical therapy space designed with older bodies and seniors' motivations in mind. The goal is to keep you moving and independent. Maintain balance, strength, and independence with indoor and outdoor real-world rehab spaces. The physical therapy center also includes a speech therapist who can help you through the impacts aging can have on language.

Mind: Working with Benefis' geriatrician can help you identify early cognitive decline and take intervention measures sooner. Be proactive with early genetic screenings, cognitive assessments, and lifestyle interventions for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention.

Mood: Functional medicine is about solutions for menopause, andropause, brain fog, and vitality that treat symptoms at the source.

Medication: The pharmacists at Goodnow Healthy Aging Center are board-certified in geriatric pharmacy. They meet with patients to ensure medications are working together well, especially important for people with multiple chronic conditions and factors that make them high risk for adverse drug events. They also can help with special medication packaging that simplifies knowing what medication needs to be taken when.

For more information about the Goodnow Healthy Aging Center, call 406-731-8660 or stop by the center at 2800 10th Ave. S. in Great Falls.