People to be thankful for this season

News and Views from Rita

I hope you’ve all had a great Thanksgiving and will have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

I have been under the weather, but I have met a wonderful group of friends, who are “dog people”. I had been wondering what I could do for my adorable, sweet Portia. She is an Italian Greyhound, all of 15 pounds and the sweetest, smartest dog (without having had any training) I have ever been around. She loves people, cats and dogs and not necessarily in that order.

My newly found friends are now helping to take care of me and Portia, for which I am eternally grateful to them and also to the Anchorage firemen and EMTs, who rescued me from my cold, wet floor, even if they had to break down my doors.

It is amazing and gratifying to meet the wonderful people you usually don’t get to meet until you really need them. I’m lucky and this is a wonderful time of year. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Older Persons Action Group staff and board members, who sent me a beautiful vase of assorted flowers.

Medical care for low-income in Anchorage

I would like to tell you about another wonderful group of people and that if you are a low income and uninsured person, there is help for you. The group of dedicated health professionals is called Anchorage Project Access, and when you or your family need medical treatment, they are there for you with one simple reason: every life matters.

This volunteer network provides medical services, accepting and treating patients who have been referred by Adult Public Assistance as they would any other insured patients.

Eligibility requirements are simple and straightforward. High quality health care is provided by over 400 caring volunteer physcians and providers including hospitals, imaging centers, therapists, ancillary and other support services.

The website is designed to provide the information and help you need to find quality health care you or a loved one need, but cannot find.

Visit http://www.anchorageprojectaccess.org or send email inquiries to info@anchorageprojectaccess.org.

Rita Hatch is an Older Persons Action Group board member and volunteers for OPAG’s Medicare assistance program. Call her in Anchorage at 276-1059 or toll-free statewide at 1-800-478-1059. Her email address is ritaopag@gci.net.