Tara Solomon-Smith
Adult Dev'p. and Aging
his season has provided opportunities to share the topic I am so passionate about…health and healthcare. It began with the Health on Purpose Wellness Fair in Independence. This is an annual, regional event with great turnout. I had a panel display and handouts on the importance of brain activity as we get older and I promoted the one-on-one assistance that the Wildcat Districts provides regarding Medicare.
On October 18, 22 community members came to hear more about their options with Medicare. The workshop was held in Pittsburg, however, there were people from across the district and neighboring areas! The evaluation revealed that 100 percent agreed that because of this program, they better understood how to enroll in Medicare and where to find additional information. Ninety-four percent agreed that they had a better understanding of the many parts of Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurance. The word is out and has provided the desire for more workshops! I met with 25 Labette County seniors at the Oswego Senior Center on October 26, answering several questions and enrolling some in new plans. Another presentation will take place in Coffeyville on November 8.
Part D Prescription Drug Plan Open Enrollment began the middle of October. This is definitely one of my favorite times of year! To date, we have saved our community members over $14,000.00. I have connected with 76 individuals via presentations or one-on-one and assisted in questions and plan comparisons. I have planned days in each county and will reconnect by appointment as well.
I continue to assist my Wildcat District colleagues and community members with some of the larger components of creating a culture of health. We are bringing the district together in the effort. Key leaders from each local wellness coalition came together to create a project for the K-State Research and Extension Culture of Health Grant. Our proposal has been submitted and we are excited to see this regional collaborative effort within the Wildcat District!
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Posture