SCAN Health Plan Arizona Partnership with Empowerment Systems Inc. Brings Wellness Support to Local Seniors

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SCAN Health Plan Arizona has extended its partnership with Empowerment Systems Inc. (ESI) to make free wellness education available to local seniors who are interested in taking better control of their health. Together the organizations will provide eight monthly “Healthy Cooking” demonstrations and two eight-week “Wellness Way of Living” workshops this year. As part of the partnership, SCAN is also a sponsor of the 2013 Annual Power of Wellness Awards and Recognition Luncheon in April.

“Small changes for better health can make a big difference in reducing chronic medical conditions, improve how seniors feel, and contribute to a more enjoyable lifestyle”

The “Healthy Cooking” series allow seniors to learn the basics of preparing quick, easy and healthy meals and snacks. These free, interactive workshops are held on the third Wednesday of every month from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 20, except for the months of July and August. Cooking demonstrations are led by interns from the Greater Valley Area Health Education Center (GVAHEC), a division of ESI. “Wellness Way of Living” workshops are free hour-long presentations that help seniors understand a holistic way of living. The first eight-week series for 2013 begins March 6 with an introduction to wellness. Workshops are from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and continue every Wednesday through March and April. All workshops and cooking demonstrations take place at the SCAN Connections Resource Center, 1313 E. Osborn Road in Phoenix. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Anyone interested in attending should call 602-778-3420 to reserve a space.

“Small changes for better health can make a big difference in reducing chronic medical conditions, improve how seniors feel, and contribute to a more enjoyable lifestyle,” said Dr. Raymond Cogen, SCAN Health Plan Arizona’s chief medical officer. “Through SCAN’s partnership with ESI, we hope to provide seniors with the tools they need to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

The Feb. 2 “Senior Focus” show on KOY 1230 AM, which airs at 7:30 a.m., will feature Susan Cypert, senior community resource specialist for SCAN Health Plan Arizona, and Angelina Alfaro, student and community liaison for GVAHEC. Cypert and Alfaro will discuss the partnership between SCAN and ESI as well as the services offered by GVAHEC.

Empowerment Systems Inc. is a nonprofit family of health education and wellness programs. Through partnerships with like-minded organizations, ESI offers a comprehensive array of services that contribute to the overall well-being of individuals, families and communities. For the past two years, SCAN has received ESI’s Community Collaboration Award for its innovative collaborative work with the Arizona Living Well Institute, another ESI program focused on chronic disease self-management.

For 35 years SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare and today is one of the largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans in the United States. SCAN Health Plan Arizona serves approximately 12,000 members in Maricopa and Pima counties. Further information is available at www.scanhealthplan.com.

SCAN Health Plan Arizona is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract.

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