SCAN Health Plan Partners with Cal Fresh to

Deliver Trading Ages Program

(LOS ANGELES – June 14, 2011) — Employees with the Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) Cal Fresh program recently had the opportunity to experience some of the physical and emotional challenges that come with aging. The activity was part of “Trading Ages,” a senior sensitivity training program that was developed and conducted by the not-for-profit SCAN Health Plan.

Trading Ages is an interactive workshop that allows participants to experience a series of age‐related conditions such as hearing loss, vision changes and loss of dexterity. The training helps participants understand how challenges associated with aging can affect everyday activities, behaviors and actions. This awareness translates to increased compassion, patience and ultimately better service.

“The Cal Fresh employees who participated in the training work directly with older adults in the Los Angeles community through their daily work,” said Lena Perelman, director of community outreach at SCAN Health Plan. “This is the most rewarding type of training, when you know you’re going to make an impact on people who interact with seniors on a daily basis.”

Cal Fresh’s eligibility workers are stationed at various non-traditional sites such as health clinics, food pantries, churches and schools, where they accept and assist with Cal Fresh benefits and Medi-Cal applications.

For SCAN the opportunity to provide this training to Cal Fresh workers touched upon two of the not-for-profit health plan’s community outreach initiatives – age awareness and senior nutrition. Last year SCAN awarded more than $148,600 to California agencies that support senior nutrition. Cal Fresh, formerly Food Stamps, was created to improve the nutrition of people in low-income households.

The Trading Ages program was initially created as a way for SCAN employees to better understand the needs and mindset of its health plan members. While the program continues to be mandatory for all SCAN employees, in recent years SCAN has taken it “on the road” and has been making it available, free of charge, to physician groups, community agencies, school children and other groups interested in enhancing their sensitivity in interacting with older adults.

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of seniors. The company currently has nearly 130,000 members in California and Arizona. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.