Oct. 16, 2006 — While Martha Joseph Acevedo waited for her dental checkup at Aldershville Social Welfare Center on Monday, the senior citizen talked about her favorite parts of Care Force.
"I get to see all my childhood friends," she said, beaming. Acevedo has participated in the program since its inception six years ago. Every year she returns because of the helpful volunteers and "the good-looking doctors."
Care Force began with Dr. Cora Christian, Virgin Islands' Medical Institute (VIMI) director, and members of the Air National Guard. The guard wanted to assist in increasing the low number of immunizations in the territory, Christian said. They got a tremendous response from the senior population.
"We started out with hundreds," Christian said. "Now we have thousands."
The program offers immunizations with medicine sponsored by Hovensa: flu shots, blood-pressure screening, dental checks, vision checks, vision screening and foot exams.
"Immunizations are to the 20th century what email is to the 21st," Christian said — each has been a lifesaver to those who take advantage of it. Many residents say their health has improved or at least not worsened since coming to the program, Christian said. "I had one gentleman tell me that he hasn't gotten sick once since he got his flu shots."
This year the program added a visit from UnitedHealth Group. Medicare benefits are changing, and organizations such as UnitedHealth and its volunteers educated citizens about the newest addition to their Medicare benefits.
"This program is very important, especially for seniors whose family is out of the territory," said Denyce Singleton, state director of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Teaming up once again to stage the event were AARP, VIMI, Hovensa, the V.I. Army and Air National Guard and the Department of Health. AARP is instrumental in providing volunteers for the program, Singleton said. "We have 30 volunteers at each site making sure everyone gets the proper service."
UnitedHealth's Evercare program nurses give personalized care to seniors who need specialized assistance.
"We help them get through acute illnesses right in their home," said Senior Vice President Pat Kappas-Larcen. "Nurses are the cornerstone of the program, because they have a personal connection to the patient."
For this year's program, UnitedHealth joined the University of the Virgin Islands' MOTTEP, the Senior Medicare Program and other organizations. They offered assistance in education of benefits and new programs — such as MOTTEP's TeleHealth Hypertension program — that seniors may not know about.
"We want everyone to be knowledgeable about how their benefits work," Christian said, explaining that seniors get directed to additional assistance as the trained volunteers see the need. "We want to be sure they have an understanding of their benefits."
The program began Monday and continues through Friday. On St. Croix there will be two locations: Aldershville Social Welfare in Frederiksted and D.C. Canegata Ballpark Recreational Center in Christiansted. Organizers will also stage the program on St. Thomas. For more information about St. Thomas locations and dates, contact Care Force at 712-2444.
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