107-Yr-Outdated Member Credit Kaiser Permanente for Longevity – Cyber Tech

Bettye White Garrett has skilled many modifications and surprising occasions in her 107 years, from the Nice Despair and World Warfare II to the rise of jet journey and cell phones.

But for greater than 1 / 4 century, Garrett has loved some predictable constants — together with a wholesome way of life, thanks partially to common care via Kaiser Permanente.

Garrett first turned a Kaiser Permanente member within the Eighties, and she or he has seen Christopher Hicks, MD, inside medication, since 1999.

“I recognize Dr. Hicks a lot,” Garrett stated. “He takes his time with me and listens to all my considerations with easy-to-understand responses. I faithfully do what he tells me to do, and I belief him to provide me the very best recommendation and care.”

Garrett credit Dr. Hicks’ good recommendation for serving to her keep bodily and mentally lively and match.

“I’m 107 years outdated, and I really feel fairly good,” she stated.

The appreciation is mutual.

“Having Bettye as a affected person makes me understand what a particular profession I’ve, working as a major care doctor and having the privilege to get to know sufferers over a protracted time frame,” Dr. Hicks stated.

Dr. Hicks calls Garrett one among his “originals” as a result of she was one among his first-ever sufferers as a younger doctor out of residency.

Dr. Hicks stated he values the continuity of care that comes with having long-term sufferers like Garrett. He stated it reaffirms why he began training medication.

Ageing actively

Garrett has at all times been lively, and she or he resisted slowing down over time.

On the age of fifty, Garrett turned an everyday on the Aurora Senior Middle in Colorado. Along with her mates, she went on day-long hikes and traveled the world into her 90s.

Nowadays, she performs bingo and different video games, together with bridge 3 instances every week. She does jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles, reads a newspaper day-after-day, and watches Jeopardy! most nights — all issues she stated assist hold her mentally sharp.

Dr. Hicks agrees that bodily actions and “protecting her thoughts working” all through her life have contributed to Garrett’s longevity. However they’re solely a part of the story, he says.

“Sustaining social contacts along with her household and assisted residing neighbors appears to be vital,” he stated. “She has one thing to stay up for.”

One other issue is her lifestyle.

“She has an awesome humorousness and doesn’t let the small issues in life get her too down or too excessive,” Dr. Hicks stated. “She retains a wholesome perspective on all of life’s challenges.”

Selecting Kaiser Permanente

Garrett’s first expertise with Kaiser Permanente got here lengthy earlier than she turned a member. A member of the family was electrocuted and suffered extreme burns. She credit Kaiser Permanente medical doctors with saving this individual’s life.

She additionally had one other early reference to Kaiser Permanente. “My daughter-in-law labored for Kaiser Permanente within the Franklin medical constructing as the primary receptionist from 1969 to 1971,” she stated, referring to the Kaiser Permanente Franklin Medical Workplaces in Denver.

Other than her appreciation for Dr. Hicks, Garrett stated she values how simple it’s to get care at Kaiser Permanente, whether or not it’s scheduling a same-day appointment with a nurse or being able to get lab work executed on the identical day and in the identical place she has her physician’s visits.

Most of all, she stated, “I just like the kindness and care I obtain.”