Oct. 25, 2006 — St. Croix seniors packed Gertrude's Restaurant Wednesday for a Medicare benefits forum that provided a whole lot more than just information on prescription drug plans. The forum, sponsored by the V.I. State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), even included a mini-health fair and an aerobics session to get seniors' heart rates going.
According to SHIP Director Kitichia Weekes, the forum, entitled "Achieving a Healthy Virgin Islands," was designed to educate seniors on preventive Medicare services in order to prevent health complications later on.
"It was informative," said retired Navy chief steward Otto Tranberg. The 88-year-old Tranberg said that choosing among the many Medicare benefits could be confusing.
"It is important to talk about how to lead a healthy life, physically and mentally," said Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards, who also commended Weekes on effectively educating the public on their Medicare benefits. He also praised the seniors in attendance over the age of 80, specifically noting the men.
"I'm glad you are all looking spriteful," Richards said. "There's hope for me yet." Richards said he tried to eat healthy, but couldn't stay away from roast pork, a traditional island dish.
Dr. Letitia Henry, a nutrition specialist with UVI's cooperative extension services, helped to educate the seniors about certain foods and their links to heart disease and cholesterol. "Most of the deaths in the V.I. are caused by heart disease," said Henry. Henry said cholesterol is already in the liver and that certain foods with certain types of fats can increase cholesterol.
June St. Cyr, an aerobics instructor and assistant manager at American Paradise Gym, woke up seniors with an aerobics routine and matter-of-fact statements drawing laughter and "uh-huhs" from the undeniably "young" crowd.
"Those before us walked from estate to estate and they lived very long," said St. Cyr, adding that if there was a drive-thru at Pueblo people nowadays would use it.
St. Cyr told the audience to move and stretch as many times during the day as they could. She reminded seniors to keep themselves properly hydrated "Water, no soda," she said.
SHIP is a federal agency designed to monitor Medicare beneficiaries in each state, district and region and is locally administered by the Lieutenant Governor's Office. According to Weekes, Medicare beneficiaries will soon experience open enrollment where they may "switch, drop or enroll in new prescription drug plans from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31." Weekes warned attendees to take advantage of this because 1 percent can be added to their premium for every month they wait.
The forum concluded with a mini-fair where seniors got a chance to question a variety of health care vendors along with officials from the Health Department and the Social Security Office.
For more information on current and future Medicare benefits, call Kitichia Weekes at 772-7368 or visit the Medicare website.
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