'In good hands': AdventHealth Well 65+ provides seniors personalized care, peace of mind

Watching one's parents grow older is a natural part of life, but it can also raise important questions.

How will they get the care that they need? Do they need to move closer for additional support? How can I ensure that they live a well-rounded life as they age?

That was the case for Jenny Sippel-Tompkins, whose 81-year-old father, Jim Sippel, decided to sell his Winter Haven, Florida, home to move into her Longwood, Florida, home.

Sippel's decision was a significant one as he had been part of that community for more than 65 years. But after the passing of his wife and a 2021 battle with cancer, the upkeep of his home had become too overwhelming.

"It was a big deal for him to move here," said Sippel-Tompkins, director of pharmacy at AdventHealth Orlando. "He was very established with his friends, church and doctors, so I knew that it was going to be a big change for him to move in with us. I was also concerned about him switching doctors. I knew he wasn't a sick person, but at 81, his access to health care was essential."

Sippel-Tompkins was concerned but remembered passing an AdventHealth Well 65+ practice during her commute home one day.

After researching the practice, she sent her father a link to its website and encouraged him to make an appointment.

She expected it would take several months before her father's first visit.

"I came home one day, and my father said, 'I'm going for my first appointment next week.’ And I said, ‘Oh, well, that was quick. That's fantastic,'" she said. "I was surprised."

AdventHealth Well 65+ aims to provide highly personalized care to patients who are age 65 or older.

The program includes on-site lab work, modern facilities with special accommodations, same-day and next-day appointments as well as extended time with health care providers.

The quality of care left an impression on Sippel from his first visit.

"(The doctor) was really thorough and wanted to get things going right for me," he said. "She quickly arranged for a CT scan -- which has been a yearly routine since my colon cancer diagnosis -- and said, ‘Don't worry about going back to Winter Haven to do that.'"

A next-day follow-up appointment along with a series of specialist visits led to a concerning discovery -- his doctor found a 2-centimeter nodule in his lungs that was potentially cancerous.

Because of the efficiency of the AdventHealth Well 65+ network, Sippel was quickly connected to an oncologist and pulmonologist within days.

After meeting with the pulmonologist, they were able to find him a same-day appointment to undergo surgery and remove the nodule.

"I must say the care providers are all top-notch people," Sippel said. "They’re very personable and easy to reach. I've been very pleased with the care I received."

Sippel-Tompkins said that she is a caregiver for her daughter, who has complex medical needs, so knowing that her father is receiving quality care provides her with a sense of relief.

"I have no doubt that he will be well taken care of," she said. "I can take that worry off my plate knowing that he's in good hands."