health
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
December 2-8, 2009 Page A-7
From civil rights to choice
Warm feet for
for today’s seniors
needy children
A local effort is under way New children’s winter
By Paul Bridgewater
homes or nursing homes. The our time, attention and con­
to prevent hundreds of chil­
boots may be dropped off until
primary mission is the visit, versations about the future.
dren from facing a bitter cold
the end of January at sites
Hosting a local radio show
but the conversations about Their longevity and sense of
winter without a warm pair of
has a few perks, especially
throughout east/central Mich­
the choice of housing may in­ purpose should be foremost
boots to protect their feet.
when I’m able to talk with his­
igan. HAP has partnered with
spire your parents to assess in our own families.
From now until the end of
tory makers like Rev. Joseph
their own living arrangements.
local health insurance agents
January, Health Alliance Plan
Lowery, the dean of the Civil
The visits may even trigger
The 5th Annual Peace &
Rights Movement. Rev. Low­
(HAP) is collecting new winter
who have agreed to collect
them to consider moves or
Justice Banquet honoring
ery, who cofounded the South­
boots for children served by
boots at their offices through­
home renovations.
Rev. Joseph Lowery will take
ern Christian Leadership Con­
place at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec.
Carriage Town Ministries of out Genesee, Huron, Saginaw
ference (SCLC) with Dr. Martin
When I talked with Rev. 6, at Fellowship Chapel Hall
Flint, City Rescue Michigan of
and St. Clair counties. Retail­
Luther King Jr., is the keynote
Joseph Lowery last week, I on West Outer Drive in Detroit.
Saginaw and Pathway Shelter
ers have also stepped up to
speaker and an honoree at the
was inspired by his longevity The dinner will benefit Central
of Port Huron.
help by donating merchandise
5th Annual Peace & Justice
and sense of purpose. For United Methodist Church. For
“When we launched ‘Boots
Banquet in Detroit on Sunday,
years, he served as president ticket information, call the
or cash. Meijer is the top con­
for Kids’ last December, the
Dec. 6. (See details below). We
of SCLC, and in retirement he church at (313) 965­5422 or
tributor so far.
demand for boots was so high
had a chance to talk during
last week’s “Senior Solution”
Paul Bridgewater
continues working for civil visit www.centralumchurch.
that we quickly ran out of our A list of drop­off locations,
rights. He gave the benedic­ com.
supply,” said Anita Moliterno,
radio show.
the housing options available tion during the inauguration
as well as retailers contribut­
to them, just in case the family of President Barack Obama,
Tune in to “The Senior Solu-
general manager for HAP’s
ing to the cause, is available
At age 88, Rev. Lowery is
Flint office. “It’s just heart­
home falls short of meeting referring to “the joy of a new
tion” on WGPR 107.5FM every
as fiery and engaging as ever.
breaking to have to turn down
at www.hap.org/bootsforkids.
their changing needs. beginning.” And he is the re­
Saturday morning at 10 a.m.,
He is direct and outspoken,
a request like that, and we
Or stop in to HAP’s Flint
cipient of the 2009 Presiden­
hosted by Paul Bridgewater,
yet mellow in his wisdom and
During the holidays, join
expect the demand to be even office:
1397 S. Linden Rd.
tial Medal of Freedom.
president and CEO, Detroit
quick wit. He began his work
your aging parents in visits to Area Agency on Aging. The
higher this year.
Suite C, open from 9 a.m. to 5
with civil rights in the early
relatives and friends who are Most of the seniors in our Detroit Area Agency on Aging
“Imagine the blessings you
p.m., Monday through Friday.
1950s when I was just a school
no longer living in their family community live outside of is located at 1333 Brewery
could bring to a child this
kid. In the mid­’60s I remem­
homes. Some of these visits the public spotlight, yet their Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit,
winter by simply picking up a
All retail establishments
ber his leadership as he took
may take you to senior apart­ stories are no less significant MI 48207; (313) 446-4444;
pair of boots while you’re out
that wish to contribute may
demands of the Selma to Mont­
ment buildings, assisted care than those of Rev. Lowery. www.daaa1a.org.
shopping for your friends and
contact Anita Moliterno at
gomery March to Alabama’s
facilities, adult foster care Let’s honor their lives with
family.” (810) 230­7404.
governor, George Wallace.
You might recall that many
organizations referred to the
Civil Rights Movement as the
Southern Freedom Movement.
For them, the struggle was
about more than civil rights
under the law. It was also I feel much better knowing that
about fundamental issues of
freedom, respect, dignity and
economic and social equality.
I’ve made the right choice.
Those same fundamental
issues apply to the everyday
lives of the older adults in our I chose the highest rated Medicare plan in Michigan
†
– HAP.
own families. They want their
freedom, respect, dignity and
economic security. And for
Alliance Medicare PPO received the highest Medicare Star summary rating
as long as they are able, they
for health plan quality of any Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan for
should be allowed to make
the decisions that meet their
2010.* And no Medicare HMO plan in Michigan rated higher than
needs and preferences.
HAP Senior Plus.
As you probably know, the
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
advocates on behalf of seniors
and individuals with disabili­
If you want to learn more about a leader in quality and customer
ties in our community. Last
service, HAP offers free Medicare workshops about the Alliance
week, on Thanksgiving Day,
an army of volunteers worked Medicare Supplement, Alliance Medicare Rx (PDP), Alliance
with us to deliver over 5,000
dinners to needy seniors.
Medicare PPO, and HAP Senior Plus (HMO) plans:
For them, this was a chance to
get closer to those we serve.
Many of the volunteers were Detroit
delivering meals in neighbor­
hoods they had never visited.
November 16, 2009
And in our city, many old, es­
November 18, 2009
tablished neighborhoods are
the real “retirement communi­
November 19, 2009
ties.”
Have these neighborhoods
retained the sense of commu­
Dearborn
nity they had in the 1950s and
1960s when the Civil Rights
November 19, 2009
Movement was at its peak?
Do neighbors look out for one
another? Do neighbors even
Southfield
know one another? Are the
steps to the front door in good
November 20, 2009
repair? Can our elders live
with freedom, respect, dignity
and economic security in their
HAP adds new workshop dates every day. Call
current houses and neighbor­
for the latest workshop listing and to reserve
hoods?
For many, the answer is yes
your place: toll-free (800) 449-1515 or
– for now. But now is also the
TDD (800) 956-4325. Monday
time to look ahead at the op­
tions for our seniors, and this
through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
may include the elders in your
own family. If you have aging
parents who are still living in
the family home, I hope you
read my column in last week’s
Michigan Chronicle. It re­
minded you of ways to check
those homes for safety and
ease of mobility. Now, I want
you to consider introducing
your aging parents to some of
Companies
creating
smoke-free
environments
A smoke­free work environ­
ment sends a clear message of
a company’s commitment to
create and sustain a healthy
community and healthy work­
force
Smoke­free worksites pro­
tect employees and clients
from secondhand smoke,
which can be especially harm­
ful to people with chronic dis­
eases such as asthma.
For the latest workshop listing and to reserve your place, call toll-free:
Much can be done to im­
prove this situation
(800) 449-1515 or TDD (800) 956-4325
If it’s time for your organi­ Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
zation to become smoke­free,
Health Alliance Plan (HAP) en­
courages you to consider key
A sales representative will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons
principles for implementing a
with special needs at sales meetings, call toll-free (800) 449-1515 or TDD (800) 956-4325.
successful smoke­free policy.
Among them:
Workshops are for Medicare-eligible individuals who do not have benefits paid for by a former employer and who pay for their own
Obtain management com­
mitment and support; plan to
healthcare coverage.
implement the policy in con­ †
Based on Medicare’s Plan Quality and Performance Rating 2009 Survey conducted by the federal Medicare program.
junction with national events
such as the American Cancer
To see full results, go to “Compare Health Plans” on www.medicare.gov
Society’s Great American
Smokeout in November;
 en­
HAP Senior Plus and Alliance Medicare PPO are health plans with a Medicare contract. Alliance Medicare Rx (PDP) is a stand-alone
force the smoke­free policy
Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract. Alliance Medicare Rx (PDP), Alliance Medicare Supplement and Alliance Medicare
just as you would enforce PPO are products of Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Health Alliance Plan. Alliance
any other policy;

offer smok­
Medicare Supplement is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
ing cessation programs to all
employees and their families
H2312 H2322 S3440 357R Event Ad F&U Certified 11.11.09
before and after the policy
change.
5191 HAP WKSPv2_MC_9.625x16.indd 1 11/11/09 3:15:46 PM
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