Our Approach to Anti-Aging
We use a multi-hormonal and systems-balancing approach that includes management of: Sex Hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone), Thyroid and Adrenal hormones, Digestive/Gut Health, Cardiometabolic Balancing, Inflammation, and disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism (imbalances in blood sugar with diabetic risk and weight gain). The end result is a healthier YOU with increase in vitality, energy, youthful restoration, and decrease risk of the diseases of aging.
Women’s Health
Menopause/Perimenopause, hormonal imbalances, Gynecology and Sexual Health services. Treating symptoms of: hot flashes/night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, brain fog, weight gain, depression/anxiety, mood swings (irritability and weepiness), low sex drive, PMS, hair thinning/loss, aging skin, decreased muscle tone and increased body fat.
Men’s Health
Andropause, Sexual Health and Anti-Aging. Treating symptoms of: decreased motivation, mood changes with irritability and low mood, decreased stamina, brain fog/memory loss, insomnia, weight gain, decreased muscle mass with increased body fat, decreased sex drive with changes to erections, decreased workout performance and recovery, overall sense of “getting old”.
About Health & Wellness Care
Health and Wellness Care is an Anti-Aging/Functional Medicine model addressing the underlying causes of disease, especially those associated with aging. A systems-oriented approach engaging both patient and practitioner in the therapeutic partnership shifts the traditional disease model focus of medicine to more patient centered, protective and preventative approach; addressing the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Our Nurse Practitioners build relationships based on trust and respect with their clients, listening to their histories and looking at their interactions among genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health complex chronic disease. Bio identical hormone replacement is the cornerstone of most Anti-Aging programs, bringing back vitality and reducing the risk of developing diseases of age such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer and osteoporosis.
Meet the Practitioners
Geri Jones – Nurse Practitioner
Geralene “Geri” Jones is the founder of Health and Wellness Care, an ever-evolving practice conceived solely from patient referrals and grounded in the most current research in health care, particularly functional and anti-aging medicine. Geri began her career as a registered nurse in 1998 and changed the direction of her practice after earning her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2009, becoming a nurse practitioner specializing in Women’s Health.
A capstone of Health and Wellness Care is Geri’s commitment to actually heal people rather than to merely treat symptoms. Recognizing that men need these services just as much as women, she expanded into men’s health in 2015. Her vision is to bring attention to this type of medicine locally, nationally, and globally. Geri values open, honest, and trusting relationships between patient and provider as evidenced in her plan of care for every patient. Her holistic approach provides something that is rarely experienced in traditional health and wellness settings–highly individualized attention and time with each patient.
Geri is passionate about educating her patients in anti-aging and functional medicine and has developed and taught educational programs for providers as well as to women across the country. She lends her expertise to women’s groups, leads retreats in health and wellness, and is sought after for her motivational and inspiring style in discussing women’s’ health, hormones, breast cancer prevention, stress management, and lifestyle changes. In the near future, Geri plans to host anti-aging educational seminars around the valley to the public. The growth of Health and Wellness Care instigated the welcome addition of two new nurse practitioners in 2016 as well as locations in both the East and West Valleys.
Geri trained alongside Dr. Khalid Mahmud, renowned researcher in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine and a published author of breast cancer studies and prevention books. It was during her two year apprenticeship with Dr. Mahmud that Geri realized the field of anti-aging medicine was her life passion. In 2011, Geri partnered with Dr. Kathi Fry, one of the first physicians to bring bio-identical hormones to the valley. The same year, Geri took over the practice. Thanks to the integrity of Geri’s work and the ease with which she relates to patients, the status of her practice grew to that of full time based solely on patient referrals, including Dr. Fry’s patients who trusted her knowledge and individualized level of care.
Chelsea Welsh – Nurse Practitioner
Chelsea graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked as a Registered Nurse for 5 years, rotating throughout various units within the hospital before she obtained her Master of Science in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner from Grand Canyon University.
Chelsea has always been drawn to the holistic approach of integrative and functional medicine. She has been studying bio-identical hormones and anti-aging medicine for over 2 years. She works directly with Nurse Practitioner Geralene Jones who has specialized in this area for 6 years. Geralene Jones received her training by renowned oncologist/hematologist, internist, and anti-aging physician Dr. Khalid Mahmud. Anti-aging medicine is aimed at the prevention of diseases from “old age” such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, thyroid dysfunction, dementia, various forms of cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
Health and Wellness Care focuses on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy from puberty throughout the lifespan. However, Chelsea is a Family Practitioner and is able to see men and women of all ages for various health issues. At our practice we believe in spending adequate time with each and every patient, and building a professional relationship and friendship based on mutual respect and trust. A patient is not diagnosed as just a “lab value”, because we believe the “normal” labs of one patient may not be normal for another. How the patient is feeling is often times more important than what the “numbers” look like on a sheet of paper. With anti-aging medicine, treating a patients symptoms is the number one priority, and then the protective and preventative benefits are equally important and addressed within the treatment plan.
Lindsey Szczepanski – Nurse Practitioner
Lindsey is a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specializing in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and thyroid disorders. Lindsey completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through the University of North Dakota and worked in high-risk Labor and Delivery in Las Vegas and North Dakota for over 5 years, which was a truly enriching experience for her.
Although Lindsey will always have a soft spot for Labor and Delivery, her ultimate dream was to take care of all women throughout their lifespan. This led her to receiving her Master’s of Science in Nursing degree through the intensive Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program from the University of Cincinnati.
Lindsey has worked in different settings such as Gynecology, Women’s Health, Internal Medicine, and Family Planning; all of which have offered major contributions to her approach to health care. Lindsey believes in providing high-quality, non-judgmental care to all while taking the time to listen to each concern. Lindsey has dedicated herself to being current in advances in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and providing safe hormone replacement, including hormone pellet therapy that has been around since 1930’s.
In addition to providing quality care to a wide variety of patient’s over the years, Lindsey believes it is important to help educate the future of health care and has been a Clinical Nursing Instructor for the University of North Dakota. In addition, she has been a preceptor for students in the Family Nurse Practitioner programs at Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.
Lindsey was born and raised in East Grand Forks, MN and moved to Fountain Hills, AZ with her husband in December 2011. They are thoroughly enjoying the warm, sunny weather and the lack of need for a snow shovel or ice scraper. Lindsey enjoys hiking, boating, traveling with family and friends, and reading. She is also a new mom to baby girl Beckett, born in September!