Part companion, part medical caregiver, always a friend in need, Colonie town nurse Sue Kaiser has been making house calls to residents for 24 years.
After a stint at a local hospital as an acute-care nurse, Kaiser took on the job of town nurse, a town service that dates back to the 1930s. Although most local municipalities provide outreach services to older residents, Colonie is the only local town employing a full-time nurse.
Kaiser works out of office space at the Beltrone Living Center off Wolf Road. She runs on high speed, and it can be hard to catch up with her.
I have morning office hours from about 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., said Kaiser, who ends almost every sentence with a laugh. `People have to get up very early to see me.`
Mobile town residents of any age can stop in for routine care such as blood pressure checks, injections, wound care, diet and health counseling, diabetic monitoring or newborn assessments. Kaiser averages about six patients a day in the office, many of whom are regulars.
Administrators at Beltrone said Kaiser has been a godsend to the center’s community.
`She is an early riser, but so are many of our Senior living center residents,` said Ed Neary, executive director for Colonie Senior Services Centers. `They really appreciate her advice and like her so much. She has a very low-key manner and willingness to help.`
Akin to a school nurse, Kaiser is often the first stop for patients sensing there’s something not quite right, but hesitant to call their physician.
`One of our maintenance men went to see Sue, and she checked his blood pressure then sent him right to his doctor,` said Neary. `That’s just one example of someone she helped; there are so many unsung stories.`
After less than an hour in the office, Kaiser turns on the answering machine, which she checks frequently throughout the day, and hits the open road. She loads up the Chevy the town provides her with syringes, testing equipment and a stethoscope. She plots out her home visits geographically, squeezing the most stops out of her afternoon, during which she can see up to 10 patients.
Traversing the miles of town roadways, most of which she knows like the back of her hand, Kaiser logs in lots of windshield time.
`My mileage is out of the ballpark,` admits Kaiser. `In the course of 24 years, I’ll bet I’ve been on every single town road at least once. But I’m living my dream. There’s a lot of diversity and autonomy in my work. I could never envision myself sitting in an office behind a desk.`
The majority of Kaiser’s clients are senior citizens, primarily because service agencies for the elderly make referrals for people needing regular care.
`Most people I see are elderly and frail,` said Kaiser. `It’s not a requirement they be, but that’s where the need is. Some are housebound, many are legally blind, and many have family members too far away to help them manage their medications.`
Over the span of so many years, Kaiser has seen and experienced the best and worst of times in the lives of the elderly, from sheer desolation to people reaching out for some human connection.
`It’s pretty prevalent that people want to see a friendly face, and I could drink tea all day if I had the chance to slow down and visit,` said Kaiser. `They all want someone to sit with and reminisce. If I have the time, I will sit, but mostly I’m on the go. It tugs at the heart.`
When she encounters a visible need, such as people living without proper utilities or stocked pantries, Kaiser alerts other agencies, such as Meals on Wheels.
`I’ve been known to bring in food and other supplies, but people need a sustained source for their basic needs,` said Kaiser. `They become very isolated. They may not have seen another human being for days. I’ve been known to make phone calls to people on holidays just to check in.`
Kaiser maintains charts on all her patients, but since the service is free to town residents, she is able to skirt all the pesky insurance forms. She turns in an annual report to the town board, and writes articles for the town newsletter.
Supervisor Mary Brizzell said employing Kaiser has been one of the best investments the town has ever made.
`That’s one of the things that makes this town so great, there’s always been a town nurse,` said Brizzell. `She visited both of my parents, who are now deceased. We couldn’t ask for a nicer person than Sue.`
With the largest population of senior citizens in Albany County, Brizzell said, Colonie residents gravitate towards the town for their outreach services.
`Our senior population is precious to us,` said Brizzell. `I couldn’t measure the difference Sue has made or the number of lives she’s touched.`
Kaiser has juggled the demands of being a working mom during her years as town nurse. She has three children and three grandchildren. Her husband, Paul, works for the state, and although Sue said they’re not workaholics, they have no plans to retire.
`I’m thinking I’ll stay for as long as it feels right, and it still does,` she said. `I probably hear ‘thank you so much,’ ‘I love you,’ and ‘I couldn’t do it without you’ a dozen times a week.`
Besides letting more people know about her availability, Kaiser said she wants to relay another message to residents of all towns.
`It’s vital for people to watch out for each other,` said Kaiser. `Don’t let anyone stay alone month after month. It doesn’t matter if you’re just a neighbor or an acquaintance; you can help change their lives.`
For information about receiving care from the town nurse, call 459-2516.
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