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
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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.
Visit http://www.myhealthpassport.org/ to see our redesigned site.
Friday, April 10, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, April 3, 2009
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
Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdTc7GTU
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.
Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdT6oCW0
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.
Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdSjEFHd
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.
Read more: Frugal Tips to Survive a Recession beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/#ixzz0BdRoWYIC
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.
Read more: beingfrugal.net - http://beingfrugal.net/#ixzz0BdOTcGYf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)