Hypertension Education Initiative Targeting NYC’s Asian-Americans

Councilmember John Liu, above, attended the screening. Senior, Tsukao Yuan has his blood pressure taken by VNR member.

New York City Councilmember John Liu and other prominent members of New York’s Asian-American and medical communities joined Jane Gould, President & CEO of Visiting Nurse Regional Health Care System (VNR), to unveil a new hypertension education initiative targeting New York City’s Asian-American community. To inaugurate the campaign, VNR offered free blood pressure screenings for senior citizens. The event took place in the Phoenix Room at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, Queens. The screenings will continue over the next four months.

Hypertension is a common chronic illness among Asian-Americans, and if uncontrolled, can lead to heart disease and stroke. According to a medical study, heart disease was the second leading cause of death for Asian-Americans in the year 2000*.

“At VNR, we feel strongly about providing proper health education and keeping New Yorkers healthy,” said Jane Gould. “With the help of leaders in the Asian-American community, including Councilmember Liu, VNR will meet the diverse needs of this growing population. Our Asian service team will help them access the best care — care that they need and deserve.”

VNR has expanded its community outreach programs to the Asian-American community in Queens and Manhattan, offering home health care services to citizens who may be unable to gain access to care due to cultural and language barriers.

For more information about dates and times of the free blood pressure screenings, New Yorkers should call Tara Piergrossi at VNR at: 718-923-5350.

Locations for Health Screenings include:

CPC Nan Shan Senior Citizens Center 133-12 41st Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

Korean American Senior Center of Flushing 42-15 166 ST., Flushing, NY, 11358

Bland Houses 133-36 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing, NY 11354

Visiting Nurse Regional Health Care System (VNR): The Visiting Nurse Regional Health Care System is comprised of The Visiting Nurse Association of Brooklyn, (VNAB) which was established in 1888 and Empire State Home Care Services. VNAB is the oldest certified home health agency in New York City and the fourth oldest in the United States. To learn more about what the VNR offers and how we can help you, please visit us at www.vnrhcs.org.

*Charles B. Wang Community Health Center.