Announcement: Class Schedule & Newsletter Release!

A gift to you for the holidays: our Health Passport January-March 2010 course schedule has arrived!

Not only that, but our always-informative Newsletter is here, with quality articles pertaining to your health & wellness.

Well, what are you waiting for? Check them out now!

January - March 2010 Course Schedule

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Health Passport - Careers

December 10, 2009
Class Title: Career Camp
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Activities @ Spirit of Christ Catholic Church

December 8, 2009
Classs Title: Ancient Middle East
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am

Activities @ Our Saviour's Church

December 3, 2009
Class Title: Coventry Cathedral & Warwick Castle
Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm

December 10, 2009
Class Title: Censorship - Can You Tell?
Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm

December 17, 2009
Class Title: Colorado Christmas
Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Activities @ Lakewood Cultural Center

December 8, 2009
Class Title: Prehistoric Lakewood
Time: 10:30 - 12:00 pm

December 15, 2009
Class Title: A Classic Christmas
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Health Passport - Excursions

December 6, 2009
Class Title: Christmas Concert with Silver Cornet Band
Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm

December 9, 2009
Class Title: National Renewable Energy Lab
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm

December 18, 2009
Class Title: Friday Lunch Group
Time: 11:30 am

December 25, 2009
Class Title: Holiday Lunch Group
Time: 1:00 pm

Activities @ Colorado Mills Mall

December 3, 2009
Class Title: Clutter Control - Is It Possible? Declutter for 2010
Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

December 7, 2009
Class Title: Japanese Surrender: September 2, 1945
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

December 12, 2009
Class Title: Health Passport Gingerbread House Workshop
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

December 17, 2009
Class Title: Be Healthy, Be Happy - "Portion Distortion"
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Walking in icy, snowy weather can be dangerous, but these tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can help make your trek safer.
Dress in layers and wear boots with nonskid soles. Wear a bright scarf or hat or reflective gear so drivers can see you.
Walk on sidewalks if possible. If sidewalks are covered in snow and ice and you must walk in the street, walk against the flow of traffic and as close to the curb as you can.
Don't wear a hat or scarf that blocks your vision or makes it hard for you to hear traffic.
When traveling with babies or small children, dress them in bright or reflective clothing. Always keep children--whether in a stroller or on foot--in front of you and as close to the curb as possible.
Before you step off the curb, make sure oncoming cars and trucks have come to a complete stop.

Driving Safely In Winter Weather

Snow, ice, and extreme cold can make driving treacherous. These safety tips from CDC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Safety Council can help make winter car travel safer.
Before winter arrives, have your car tuned up, check the level of antifreeze, make sure the battery is good, and check your tire tread or put on snow tires.
Keep emergency gear in your car for everyday trips:
cell phone
flashlight
jumper cables
sand or kitty litter (for traction)
ice scraper, snow brush, and small shovel
blankets
warning devices (e.g., flares, reflectors)
For long car trips, keep food, water, extra blankets, and required medication on hand.
Avoid driving in snow or ice storms. If you must travel in bad weather, drive slowly. Let someone know what route you're taking and when you plan to arrive so they can alert authorities if you don't get there.
If your car is parked outside, make sure the exhaust pipe and the area around it are free of snow before you start the car. Snow packed in or around the exhaust pipe can cause high levels of carbon monoxide in the car.
Don't sit in a parked car with the engine running unless a window is open. Do not let your car run while parked in a garage.
If your car stalls or gets stuck in snow, light two flares and place one at each end of the car, a safe distance away. Make sure snow has not blocked the exhaust pipe. Then stay in your vehicle and open a window slightly to let in fresh air. Wrap yourself in blankets and run your vehicle's heater for a few minutes every hour to keep warm.

Clearing Snow And Ice

Clearing snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks is hard work. To prevent injuries, follow these safety tips from the National Safety Council, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and other prevention organizations.
Dress warmly, paying special attention to feet, hands, nose, and ears.
Avoid shoveling snow if you are out of shape. If you have a history of heart trouble, do not shovel snow unless your doctor says it's okay.
Do light warm-up exercises before shoveling and take frequent breaks.
If possible, push snow in front of you. If you have to lift it, pick up small amounts and lift with your legs, not your back. Do not toss snow over your shoulder or to the side.
Don't drink alcohol before or while shoveling snow. Never smoke while shoveling.
Use rock salt or de-icing compounds to remove ice from steps, walkways, and sidewalks. Sand placed on walkways may also help prevent slipping.
If you use a snow blower (also called a snow thrower), follow these safety guidelines:
Read the owner's manual before starting your snow blower. Make sure you understand all the recommended safety steps.
Make sure all people and pets are out of the way before you begin.
Do not put your hand in the snow blower to remove impacted snow or debris. Turn the machine off and wait a few seconds. Then use a stick or broom handle to remove the material.
Do not leave the snow blower unattended when it is running.
Fill up with fuel before you start, when the engine is cool.

Surviving A Winter Storm

To survive a snow or ice storm, follow these safety tips from Extreme Cold: A prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety, a publication of CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (see "Safety Resources" for more information about this booklet).
Be prepared. Before cold weather hits, make sure you have a way to heat your home during a power failure. Keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby when using alternative heating sources.
Keep on hand extra blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, matches, a first aid kit, manual can opener, snow shovel and rock salt, and special needs items (e.g., diapers).
Stock a few days' supply of water, required medications, and food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked.
Monitor the temperature of your home. Infants and persons over age 65 are especially susceptible to cold. If it's not possible to keep your home warm, stay with friends or family or in a shelter.
Dress in several layers to maintain body heat. Covering up with blankets can also conserve heat.

Keeping Your Home Safe and Warm

Follow these safety tips from CDC, the National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to prevent injuries and deaths related to heating your home.
Install a smoke alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. Test it monthly. If it has a 9-volt battery, change the battery once a year.
Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. If your alarm sounds, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that you press the reset button, call emergency services (911 or your local fire department), and immediately move to fresh air (either outdoors or near an open door or window). Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, get fresh air right away and contact a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Make sure heating equipment is installed properly. Have a trained specialist inspect and tune up your heating system each year.
Keep portable space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including bedding, furniture, and clothing. Never drape clothing over a space heater to dry.
Keep children and pets away from space heaters. Never leave children in a room alone when a space heater is in use.
If you use a kerosene heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never put gasoline in a kerosene heater--it could explode. Before you refuel the heater, turn it off and let it cool down. Refuel outside only.
When using a kerosene heater, keep a door open to the rest of the house or open a window slightly. This will reduce the chance of carbon monoxide build-up in the room.
Have your fireplace chimney and flue inspected each year and cleaned if needed. Open the flue and use a sturdy fireplace screen when you have a fire. Burn only untreated wood; never burn paper or pine branches--pieces can float out the chimney and ignite your roof, a neighbor's roof, or nearby trees.
If you use a wood-burning stove, have the chimney connection and flue checked each year. Make sure the stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and coals.
Never use your range or oven to heat your home, even for a short time.

Health Passport Fall Schedule

Jam-packed with four months worth of classes to keep you happy, healthy, and entertained!

Check out or September - December Health Passport Course Schedule!

Tune Up Your Skills for the Workforce

Need to freshen up your resume? Want to brush up on your Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint classes? Health Passport is here for you! Our Boomer Career Center is open to all ages and we have a wide variety of classes to suit your needs.

View our September - December Career Center classes!

Twitter

Health Passport has a Twitter account! Keep up with exciting events and classes at www.twitter.com\healthpassport

History of aspirin

Today, we know aspirin as a common over the counter medication that reduces fever, inflammation and minor aches and arthritis. many, however are unaware of it's long and fascinating history.

The history of aspirin (also known as acetylsalicylic acid or ASA)) and the medical use of it and related substances stretches back to antiquity, though pure aspirin has only been manufactured and marketed since 1899. Medicines made from willow and other salicylate acid-rich plants date back 3000 BC or further. Willow bark extract became recognized for its specific effects on fever, pain and inflammation in the mid-eighteenth century. By the nineteenth century pharmacists were experimenting with and prescribing a variety of chemicals related to salicylic acid, the active component of willow extract.

In 1853, chemist Charles Frédéric Gerhardt reacted acetyl chloride with sodium salicylate to produce aspirin for the first time; in the second half of the nineteenth century, other chemists established the compound's chemical structure and devised more efficient methods of creating it. In 1897, scientists at the drug company Bayer began investigating acetylsalicylic acid as a less-irritating replacement for standard common salicylate medicines. By 1899, Bayer had dubbed this drug Aspirin and was selling it around the world. Aspirin's popularity grew over the first half of the twentieth century, spurred by its effectiveness in the wake of Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and aspirin's profitability led to fierce competition and the proliferation of aspirin brands and products.

Aspirin's popularity declined after the development of acetaminophen in 1956 and ibuprofen in 1962. In the 1960s and 1970s, John Vane and others discovered how aspirin works, while clinical trials and other studies from the 1960s to the 1980s established aspirin's efficacy as an anti-clotting agent that reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin sales revived considerably in the last decades of the twentieth century, and remain strong in the twenty-first with widespread use as a preventive treatment for heart attacks and strokes.

Exiting new changes

there are many new and exiting changes happening within the Health Passport links program. Check the Blog regularly for more information.

Online Diagnoses?

Have a sore throat, but don't have time to fit in an appointment? Or maybe you're out of town and you forgot to fill your prescription before you left.

To accommodate these situations, some Doctors have begun offering their services via the World Wide Web. The Wall Street Journal reports that this year, some 39% of physicians have communicated with their patients online versus 16% last year.

Naturally, the most common services offered online are the administrative ones: bill paying, sending lab results, and appointment scheduling. Some patients, however, are using the Internet as a convenient treatment method.

Most doctors who offer these services say that they are most effective for only the mild and simple conditions; and when patients are too busy or too far away to come into the office. Common ailments include sinus problems, cold and flu symptoms, urinary infections, and coughs.

These doctors will not treat more serious conditions, like chest pain or other symptoms that could indicate an emergency.

Here are the basic tips that the Wall Street Journal recommends when it comes to Digital Doctors:

• Stick to non-urgent symptoms that likely signal a mild condition, particularly one your doctor has treated for you before, like mild sinus problems, a urinary-tract infection, or flu.
• If you feel something that may indicate a more urgent problem, like chest pains, don't go online. Seek immediate in-person care.
• Consider using digital communication to update your primary doctor about your chronic conditions and any specialist care or other factors that affect your health.
• If the service isn't a live online visit, make sure you know your doctor's policies on response time.
• Check if your health plan covers online visits, and what qualifies. if you have no coverage or a high deductible, ask whether your doctor charges, and how the fee compares to an office visit.

For more information, see the article in full at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203872404574257900513900382.html

So you want to be in health care?

Do you know of any high school students interested in becoming health care professionals? If so, let them know about the health care seminar taking pace at St.Anthony's in the fall. High school students from around the Denver-metro area will be in attendance. guest speakers will give an over view of what a career in medicine is really like. the exact date and time will be given by the end of the summer.

Gardening safety

In the new July-August course schedule, there are several featured courses that have to do with gardening. whether your a novice gardener or a real green thumb, you should attend one of these couses and visit the following link to learn more about gardening safety.

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/tp/Garden-Safety.htm

Enjoying a Healthy Summer

Having fun this summer and staying healthy at the same time can be very easy. Just follow these simple steps:

• When going outside, always wear a high SPF sunscreen (at Least 30) to prevent sunburns and skin cancer
• when outdoors, always wear bug spray to prevent the spread of diseases such as West Nile, Lyme disease and Yellow Fever.
• When it is especially hot outdoors, be sure to monitor yourself closely. If you start to feel faint or dizzy, head inside immediately, for this could be a sign of heatstroke.
• Be sure to remain indoors during thunder storms in order to reduce the Chance of getting struck by lightning.
• Be cautious of allergens in the air, such as ragweed and pollen when outside.

If you follow these simple steps, and use common sense, you are sure to have a great summer.

Happy 4th of July

The Health Passport office at St.Anthonys Central will be closed on Friday the 3rd of July through Sunday the 5th due independence day. it will reopen on Monday the 6th.

Celebrate Summer with Health Passport!

Our NEW JULY-AUGUST Course Schedule is available online now!
Click HERE to view our latest class offerings.
Make sure to register for all classes you are interested in, regardless of fee.
Call us at 303-629-4921

Check it out!

Health and the Internet

Knowledge is at our fingertips. The World Wide Web has given us the ability to search thousands upon thousands of articles through thousands of websites to find the details of any topic from last night’s sports scores to the latest international news stories. Health information too has become readily available through sites like WebMD.com and the Mayo Clinic’s website, but the Internet lacks content regulators, and as a result, articles and discussion boards can often contain grossly inaccurate information.

Before taking to heart any health-related information or advice found on the web, it is important to evaluate the quality of the site to determine the reliability of its contents. The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has developed a website to help Internet users navigate the web, and find accurate, reliable health information.

UCHSC recommends that anyone seeking health-related information or guidance on the Internet should follow the DOCTOr acronym to determine the information’s accuracy:

• Design - the aesthetics and ease of movement around the site.
• Other - cost of use, is the site rated or reviewed?
• Content - the depth and quality of the information, its purpose and audience.
• Technical - the technology requirements of the site, the effectiveness of the technology used.
• Origin - the author and sponsor of the site, their qualifications for presenting the information, the date of the information.

The answers to these questions should help you evaluate whether or not the site can be trusted for accuracy.

For more information and to see the site in full, please visit: http://hsclibrary.uchsc.edu/education/evaluating.php

Medicare Changes Policies on Home-Oxygen Therapy

Healthcare was one of the biggest issues in last year’s presidential election, and over the past several months, it has become evident that the candidates’ calls for reform were more than just campaign rhetoric. Central to the government’s already-established health care system, it’s no surprise that Medicare has been the focus of many of these discussions.

One crucial issue affecting many Medicare patients is the system’s new policies regarding home-oxygen therapy. The Wall Street Journal reported on this set of complex rules this morning. Under the new regulations, which took effect on January 1, Medicare will subsidize 80% of the cost home-oxygen therapy for 36 months, at which time, payments to equipment providers are reduced to minimal amounts that cover occasional follow-up visits. Medicare continues this level of support for the next 24 months, at which time the patient is eligible to seek new equipment.

Suppliers have responded negatively to this change in policy, making it difficult for patients to change providers and seek new equipment. Home-oxygen therapy patients should be sure to understand the new policies before changing equipment providers, so that they can take advantage of all available Medicare benefits.

For more information, please see the article in full at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124511204251317173.html

An Apple A Day...

In today’s society we are facing an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, arthritis, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and high cholesterol. In 2005 approximately 133 million Americans were living with a chronic condition of some sort; that is nearly half of the American population! Even more staggering is that 78% of health care spending is devoted to people with chronic conditions; that is slightly over $1.5 trillion! These conditions are and will be increasingly prevalent due to; increased life expectancy, an aging society, and new drugs and medical procedures that convert once-fatal diseases to chronic, life-long conditions. A large portion of these health care costs can be avoided by teaching the patient how to better manage their health condition. This means that a patient with proper prevention and management techniques will significantly decrease costs and improve their quality of life.
Chronic disease is not just a plethora of statistics. While there are a variety of chronic illnesses they all impact ones quality of life in many ways. Learning to deal with the emotions, pain, communication barriers, lack of energy, frustration, and medication management can be overwhelming and continue in a never ending cycle. The main issue for one living with a chronic disease is learning how to cope with and control many of the above symptoms. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness does not necessarily mean that it will govern your life. People who choose to be a positive self-manager and undergo the best treatments offered by their health care professional along with being proactive in day-to-day management of their illness can achieve a healthy life.
Learning to positively manage all aspects of your chronic condition will make a significant improvement in your day to day life and many programs have been developed to teach you how to take control of your health and your illness. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program developed by a group in the Stanford School of Medicine has been very successful and is now part of the Medicare systems in Australia and Canada and is offered all across the United States. Not only can such an approach improve your quality of life but can save you and our healthcare system a significant amount of money.
St. Anthony Hospitals Health Passport offers a series of classes on chronic disease self-management called Healthier Living. The objective of these classes is to give you, the patient, a wealth of knowledge and tools that will help you to positively manage your health condition. That means learning how to fight fatigue and frustration, control pain, deal with depression, communicate with your physician, manage medications, manage stress and relax, and starting a physical activity program. Participants learn how to rely on their self for controlling many of the symptoms associated with ongoing health conditions. Participants of this program, compared to non-participants, demonstrated significant improvements in exercise, cognitive symptom management, communication with physicians, self-reported general health, health distress, fatigue, disability, and social activities. For information about upcoming classes call Health Passport at 303-629-4921.

Root Root Root for the Rockies!

Health Passport has a special treat for anyone who loves baseball!

We'll be attending Rockies games every month until September. We have amazing seats on the first level along the third base line.

A ticket and transportation in our Health Passport van

costs only $10!!

Tuesday, June 16th 6:40 pm Rockies vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Sunday, July 26th 1:10 pm Rockies vs San Francisco Giants

Tuesday, August 25th 6:40 pm Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Friday, September 4th 7:10 pm Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks


Call the Health Passport Office for tickets and more information, 303-629-4921.

New Course Schedule Available!

Our NEW MAY-JUNE Course Schedule is available online now!

Click HERE to view our latest class offerings.

Make sure to register for all classes you are interested in, regardless of fee.

Call us at 303-629-4921

Health Passport Launches Redesigned Website

Have you seen our new and improved website?! If not, you must check it out!

Visit http://www.myhealthpassport.org/ to see our redesigned site.

New Fitness Classes!

The Health Passport program at St. Anthony Hospitals is pleased to announce the addition of two new fitness instructors to our successful fitness program at Colorado Mills Mall. Classes meet once a week for $20/month or $7/class.
As the ‘Health Guru’ for Channel 9’s Colorado and Company, Coach Stacy lives by the motto “If you’re moving, you’re improving!”. Coach Stacy has developed an integrated Weight Training class with Health Passport. Join us and seek the professional advice of a Certified Personal Trainer in gaining muscle strength and tone through use of a variety of weights, stretch bands and stretching techniques.
Our Stretch & Flex instructor, Scott Hahn, could not imagine anything more rewarding than teaching an aging population. Scotts experience in the fitness and health field now spans over 2 decades and the comforting and enjoyable environment that fills his class is a testament to his expertise. Our Stretch & Flex class uses a combination of Yoga, Pilates and free-style stretching which greatly improve mobility and range of motion.

Please Call the Health Passport office at 303-629-4921 to inquire/register for classes.

Coffee: A Fascinating History

Many of us like to start our day with a nice cup of coffee, or enjoy warming up after a day in the cold by brewing up a fresh pot. It seems coffee has become quite a regular necessity of our sleep deprived society. This energy inducing fruit has been fueling societies for over 1200 years. In fact, this common product of today’s world has quite an exciting and extensive history.

Legend has it that in the 9th Century an Ethiopian goat herder by the name of Kaldi noticed his heard joyfully frolicking and dancing from one coffee shrub to the next. After trying a few of the bright-red berries himself Kaldi was soon experiencing the heightened level of energy and awareness as well. Curious about this experience, Kaldi took some of the coffee cherries to a local monk who boiled them to make a strong and bitter beverage. The effect of caffeine in the drink became very popular in the monetary as it helped the monks stay alert during their long hours of prayer.

In its early history coffee was not consumed as we know it today, because of its sweet pulp the coffee cherry was eaten alone or with the seed (bean). It wasn’t until the 11th century that the Arabians roasted and brewed coffee as we do. By the 13th century, coffee had become a staple of the Muslim world; fueling dervishes and keeping devout worshippers awake. Wherever Islam went, coffee followed suit. By parching or boiling the beans the Arabians insured no coffee trees were grown outside Africa or Arabia. A European in possession of a coffee tree or seed was an act punishable by death; the Europeans had to buy all of their coffee from the Arabs. By 1600 an Indian pilgrim, Baba Budan, had successfully smuggled coffee seeds out of Mecca; ending the Arabians domination of the trade.

After a visit to the Turks in 1615 a Venetian merchant introduced the coffee bean to the ports of Italy. Not interested in paying for the beans, the Europeans were in a race to grow their own. The Dutch were the 1st to bring a coffee plant back to Europe, since the coffee plant cannot tolerate frost the Dutch developed a coffee-estate on the former colonial island of Java. Business boomed for the Dutch as they spread to islands surrounding Java. Overconfident, Amsterdam started giving coffee trees as gifts to aristocracy across Europe.

The Dutch gave one of these trees to Louis XIV for the Royal Botanical Gardens in Paris. A French Naval officer stationed in Martinique envisioned Martinique as a French version of Java and wished to get a few clipping from the coffee tree in Paris. After Louis XIV denied the officers request the officer planned a midnight raid of the Gardens; stealing part of the coffee tree and making way for Martinique. This clipping would yield about 18 million trees over the next 50 years and would supply many progeny to the countries of Latin America.

In 1927 Brazils ever growing interest in the booming coffee trade came to a culmination. With a perfect climate for the coffee tree Brazil was destined for success in this industry, they just didn’t have any seeds or trees. In comes Lt. Col. Francisco do Melo Palheta, who is dispatched to French Guinea to facilitate a border dispute. Not wanting to cause a ruckus and break into the fortress like coffee plantations, Francisco swindles the governor’s wife who presents the sneaky Brazilian with a bouquet of flowers spiked with coffee seedlings; thus, the beginning of the greatest coffee empire in the world.

Health Passport Links- Your Connection to Better Health

Currently there are about 47 million Americans living without health insurance. As more and more jobs are lost, resulting from our countries current economic crisis, this number will continue to grow at a shocking rate. In addition, a growing number of insured Americans also cannot afford proper health care. With ever increasing premiums, deductibles and co-pays the insured are left paying the majority of their medical bills. Patients with inadequate or no health insurance often choose to forego preventative treatments and reduce medication use; leading to diagnosis at more advanced disease stages and more emergency room visits. Insured individuals still have problems accessing health care and experience long-term financial and health consequences.
Help is here! BenefitsCheckUp Colorado helps identify and determine eligibility for programs that can help you save money on health care, prescription drugs and other costly medical expenses. This free, state wide program is an entry point to State, Federal, and private benefit programs that many people qualify for. These programs may help you pay for heating bills, rent, medical costs, prescription drugs, meal service and nutrition, legal matters and Alzheimer’s care. A qualified expert can also assist in finding senior housing, answers to Social Security questions, help with Medicaid applications as well as programs for the deaf and hard of hearing.
RxAssist is another great and free counseling service provided by Health Passport Links. An RxAssist coordinator can sort though the complex paperwork and eligibility requirements to determine whether you qualify for programs that will lower your medication costs. Additionally RxAssist offers Medicare Part D assistance to help people make informed decisions about Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. A counselor will run an individually tailored Medicare Plan Finder based on basic income and demographic guidelines as well as a list of medications being taken. The counselor will identify the 3 best plans for you in terms of medication cost and deductible so that you can make an educated and informed decision for your health care needs.
Health Passport Links also provides free Health Insurance Counseling for Seniors. Medicare and Medicaid coverage can be extremely confusing at times and that’s why Health Passport Links offers one-on-one assistance to help you determine what best fits your needs. A certified State Health Insurance Assistance counselor will help you navigate Medicare and Medicaid benefits, HMO’s, Supplemental insurance and Medigap plans, Long-term care insurance plans as well as Insurance appeals.
Not only is it difficult to afford the price of our health care system but it is equally as difficult to understand it. Often times people know that they need help but just don’t know where or how to find it. St. Anthony Hospitals developed Health Passport Links to help Coloradans navigate the complexities and paper work that deter people from receiving the benefits that they deserve. Call today! 303-629-4996.

How Frugal Are You...REALLY?

The current recession has impacted everyone. As my dad used to say, “there are two kinds of people in the world: the ones that make things happen and the ones who let things happen to them.”

Here at health Passport we want to help you make things happen. Listed below are several blogs for the frugal minded. A special thank you to Lynnae McCoy for getting us started.

Now, we challenge you to add to this list. Read the blog, then add your comment. Click the “comments” link to get started.

Question? Call us and we will help you: (303) 629-4921

Springtime Tips for the Frugal Homeowner

·Use only half of a dishwasher tablet at a time.
·Use rechargeable batteries for electronics and toys.
·Store batteries in the refrigerator. They last longer.
·Do repairs (paint touch ups, sewing, etc) one day a week. If you keep things in good working order, they last longer.
·Accept hand-me-downs. You can donate them if you can’t use them.
·Do home repairs yourself.
·Reuse things. An example: Plastic grocery bags can be reused as lunch bags, shoe bags, or laundry bags on vacation.
·Email for free samples. You can get some good stuff!
·Wash and re-use Ziplock bags.
·Make your own Christmas cards by making a collage from the fronts of Christmas cards you received the previous year.
·See if your local dump or transfer station offers free firewood or garden mulch. Take advantage of it.
·Use water from boiling eggs or pasta to water your plants.

Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdW2vQPq

Springtime Tips for Frugal Entertainment

·Cancel magazine subscriptions.
·Use the library for books, magazines, and movies. See if you can reserve them online and then just pick them up.
·Read newspapers online.
·Celebrate “no spend” weekends, where you don’t spend anything.
·Prepare special dinners at home, rather than going out to celebrate.
·Eat out only once a month.
·Use hotel points and airline miles for vacation.
·Split an entree with someone else when you go out for dinner.
·Do free things for entertainment: Hiking, free city concerts, board games.
·Only order from the dollar menu when eating out.
·Go to the park and have a picnic.
·Take advantage of “get in free” days at the museum, etc.

Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdVX8dOO

Miscellaneous Springtime Tips for the Frugal Minded

·Cut your own hair.
·Shop for Christmas gifts year round to catch the good sales.
·Compost…it’s good for the garden.
·Sell something every week.
·Never spend change. Collect it and put it in a savings account.
·Get rid of excess stuff. It costs less to store and maintain.
·Sell it on eBay or Craigslist.
·Use a fee free credit card with rewards. Charge everything to get the rewards. But ONLY do this if you are diligent about paying it off every single month. If you pay interest, it isn’t worth it.
·Pay off debt as quickly as possible. Saves on interest.

Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdUqkpGX

Springtime Tips for the Frugal Clothes Shopper

·Limit clothes shopping.
·Shop at thrift stores.
·Shop garage sales.
·Sew, using discount fabric (easy to find at garage sales).
·Change into play clothes after school to keep good clothes looking nice.

Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdUSi8Io

Springtime Frugal Tips for Medical Needs

·Use a flexible spending account or cafeteria plan, so you can pay out-of-pocket medical expenses with pre-tax dollars.
·Ask your doctor to prescribe generic medication.
·Buy generic medication at Walmart or Target. They have a lot of different medications available for $4.
·Call Health Passport to schedule an appointment with one of our Medicare advisors

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Springtime Frugal Tips to Save on Utilities

·Turn off every electrical item at the plug every night. Putting everything on power strips makes this easier.
·Keep the lights off during the day.
·Line dry clothes outside when it’s warm and sunny.
Line dry clothes by setting dryer racks over heater vents. Use your shower rod if you need even more room.
·Let dishes air dry after running them through the dishwasher.
·Cancel the cable.
·Don’t use hot water in the summer.
·Consider a family plan for cell phones.
·Install low flow showerheads and aerators on all faucets.
·Turn off the PC if you won’t be using it for an hour or more.
·Use nightlights that only come on when it’s dark.
·Use nightlights in the bathroom, so if you have to use the bathroom at night, you don’t have to turn on the light.
·Keep the freezer full. If you have to, put milk jugs filled with water in the freezer. It’s less expensive to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.

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Springtime Frugal Car and Gas Tips

·Run errands once a week and use the most efficient route.
·Walk as much as you can.
·Stay home as often as possible.
·Keep tires filled to their proper pressure.
·Don’t suddenly stop or accelerate.
·Carpool.
·Shop around for insurance. The rates can vary a lot!
·Use gasbuddy.com to find the lowest price on gas.

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Springtime Tips for Frugal Eating

·Eat less meat.
·Eat leftovers.
·Cook large amounts and freeze extra for busy nights.
·Scrape out food jars to use the last little bit.
·Never eat out.
·Eat from your stocked pantry.
·Bring lunch from home (it’s worth it to invest in proper containers).
·Don’t drink soda. Drink water!
·Join a freezer club. Get together with like-minded people to exchange meals for your freezers.
·Cook with the crockpot to avoid using the oven, which warms up the house.

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Springtime Tips for the Frugal Grocery Shopper

·Shop for produce at a local farm stand.
··Always grocery shop with a list.
·Take advantage of sales on items that you would normally buy.
·Only shop once a month.

Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdQbblN3

Springtime Tips for the Frugal Gardener

Hit the Library. If it’s your first year gardening, go to the library and pick up some gardening books. My favorite is Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening. A square foot garden is easy to set up and maintain, which is why I like it so much. You can pretty much use the same methods in a container garden, too. By reading information on gardening, you’ll be more confident about your gardening abilities.
Talk to Fellow Gardeners. For the last couple of months, I’ve been talking to gardeners that I know at church. Not to get anything from them, but to learn from them. What I found, though, is that fellow gardeners love to share, both information and supplies. Now I know who to turn to when I have a gardening problem. And as a bonus, one of my friends gave me some containers she wasn’t using! Friends can also be a good source of plant cuttings, if you are adept at starting new plants from cuttings. I’m not.
Learn to Compost. Compost makes great fertilizer, and if you make your own, it’s free! I’ve been saying for a year that I’m going to learn to compost, and I’ve finally begun. We have the beginning of a compost pile in our backyard. Eventually I’d like to try a neater method than the “compost pile,” but this is working for us right now.
Save Extra Seeds. Mel Bartholomew talks about this in Square Foot Gardening. If you keep your seeds in a dry, cool place (such as in a jar in the refrigerator), they will still be usable next year. By using the same packet of seeds for two or three years, you can really cut your seed budget in the years to come.
Start Small. If this is your first garden, don’t overdo it. It’s better to have a small, successful crop than to feel overwhelmed and quit on your gardening project. When I first started, I grew a few tomato plants. The next year I added strawberries and some beans. Last year I grew about 8 different vegetables. And this year I’m up to about 12. Learning to garden is a process, so go slow.

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