THESE MALLS WERE MADE FOR WALKING The Exercise Venue That Will Keep You Cool and Fit
Squeeze in Some Shopping
If you’re young at heart and looking to stay (or get) in shape this summer, consider taking a trip to the mall. No, not to pick up some hot new exercise product or dietary supplement, but to walk a few laps. Safe and convenient, “mall walking” has become one of the biggest trends in senior fitness. Cool in the Summer, Warm in the Winter This time of year, heatstroke can be a real concern when exercising outside. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a homebody. Because malls are spacious and climate-controlled, they make great year-round walking venues, especially when summer temperatures spike. You don’t even need to put on sunscreen! Rest Stops Abound While the average American shopping center isn’t as scenic as the Appalachian Trail, they are far more convenient. Replete with bathrooms, cool drinking water, and plenty of benches, the mall lets you focus on exercising and removes all of the “what ifs” that come with aging. Most malls are also outfitted with EMT kits in the event of a medical emergency.
It is still a mall, after all. Why not check a few items off your shopping list or reward yourself with a new pair of sneakers? Getting things done as you exercise makes the experience that much more rewarding. Just remember not to overdo it. Carrying too many shopping bags can place undue stress on your back — and your wallet. You Won’t Be Alone
Today, malls are the second-most popular places to walk in America, after neighborhoods. Mall walking has become so big that many communities and senior living centers have put together official groups to stride together. Your local mall may already open early to accommodate walkers. So if you’re looking to make friends in an active, fun-loving community, do some research. Chances are there’s a mall-walking club near you!
AN AVENUE FOR CARE
Uninsured? You Have Options
At the Gillette Law Group, we firmly believe that a person’s income should not affect their ability to get the care they need. Every day, we work with clients who are faced with severe, often long-term medical challenges they can’t afford. To those facing these challenges without the aid of insurance, we want you to know you have options. For the uninsured in Virginia, there are a variety of community clinics that offer care to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. While these care facilities provide many essential medical needs, they often lack resources for more advanced treatment. For serious, ongoing medical issues, the best-equipped option for the uninsured is at the Medical College of Virginia. As part of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the care facilities of the medical college are on par with any hospital. In fact, they are recognized internationally for their treatment of organ transplantation, head and spinal cord trauma, burn healing, and cancer treatment. Many of our state’s community clinics refer patients to VCU for care.
Best of all, they are committed to getting uninsured people the care they need. VCU is the largest provider of indigent health care in the commonwealth, offering a host of financial-assistance programs to the uninsured. In fact, they offer free care to patients whose income falls below the federal poverty level. They also offer discounts on a sliding scale to those with incomes up to 200 percent above the federal poverty level. For a complete picture of the financial-assistance programs available from VCU, visit VCUHealth.org/vcu-medical-center/ billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance/financial-assistance- vcu-med-ctr. If you or a loved one is unable to afford care, ask your clinician to refer you to VCU, or call the medical center’s financial assistance line at 804-828-0966. You may need to fill out an application with VCU Medical Center’s Financial Counseling Department before you can be approved for care. It’s important to us that you get the care you need. You don’t have to suffer in silence; there is help out there. If you are uninsured, please consider reaching out to VCU and getting the medical assistance you need.
2 | GilletteLawGroup.com
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