By L.J. Gambone For the Apple Valley Review
Growing old can be challenging for many but the journey is now a whole lot easier thanks to a popular program established by St. Joseph Health, St. Mary in Apple Valley called Senior Select.
According to Laura Bodrog, education program coordinator for St. Mary, Senior Select was created eight years ago with the aim of offering seniors ages 50 and above everything from free health screenings and social events to educational workshops and exercise classes.
Membership to Senior Select is free and Bodrog says anyone can join regardless of who their primary care doctor is or which medical group they belong to.
“This program has been extremely successful and we are hoping more and more people will come and check out what we have to offer,” said Bodrog. “Everything we do here is free and so many professionals in the community donate their time to teach classes and give lectures. It’s a real collective effort.
“One class we hold here is about understanding Medicare for anyone turning 65. We also hold a benefits meeting for Medicare so that seniors can compare side-by-side, seven different Medicare Advantage plans.”
Along with Senior Select’s array of benefits, members also receive discounts at local hotels, restaurants, pharmacies, health clinics, home improvement stores and more. Participants include Chili’s Grill and Bar, Marie Callenders #17, Papa John’s Pizza, St. Mary Medical Center cafeteria, A Family Pharmacy, Carpet Club Inc., Hawthorn Suites, The Wine Seller and Bear Valley Party Rentals, to name a few.
Bodrog says Senior Select is unique in that it is the only place in the High Desert that offers the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Better” program for women going through cancer treatments.
Other features of Senior Select include its nightly “Supper Club,” which offer special rates on senior dinners every evening in the hospital cafeteria.
“Senior Select provides a fun and safe environment for seniors to come and socialize, as well as learn how to get healthy,” said Bodrog. “Everyone is welcome to come and check out a class or workshop before joining in order to see if it’s something they’d be interested in. I just tell people to make sure they let myself or one of my other coordinators know who they are when they get there so we can make sure they get all of their questions answered.”
Most all of Senior Select’s workshops and activities take place at its resource center at 19333 Bear Valley Road, Suite 103, in Apple Valley, Bodrog said.
To join the program, download an application at www.stmaryapplevalley.com. Applications also can be obtained by calling Senior Select’s member services department at 760-961-0971.