Volunteer Mabel Sherman praises SHINE for illuminating insurance info

Retired following 20 years in the home and auto insurance business, Sherman searched for a volunteer job that would be helpful to others and at the same time stretch her own learning skills. She found both in her volunteer work for the SHINE, Serving the Health Needs of Elders.

Sherman said, "I particularly liked the training and learned a lot that not only helps the elders that I work with, but will be beneficial to me as I shop for Medicare Supplemental Insurance next year. It's scary. It will cost me around $200 a month depending on what I find for prescription drug coverage. Also, as a caregiver for my father, I have found the SHINE training very valuable."

The SHINE Resource Manual describes the program as, "a network of elder volunteer health benefit counselors who have been trained and certified by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to provide information, counseling and assistance regarding health insurance and benefits to elders and their family members. The counselors work in Senior Centers, Councils on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, Home Care Corporations, community hospitals and many other community-based sites. Services are also provided to homebound and handicapped elders."

SHINE volunteers help each other research or solve tough problems as they respond each month to four or five requests for health insurance consultations. Volunteers renew their certification every two years and pertinent guidelines are updated periodically.

Sherman's consultations take place in a variety of settings. She meets once a week with elders in the office of the Adams Council on Aging. Also, she visits elders in their homes to clear up confusion over medical bills and insurance requirements. Many elders are reluctant to ask for help even from available family. On occasion she has been given a bag of medical bills accompanied by a request for help in putting them into some sort of order. Although not a bill payer, she has been glad to lend a hand in sorting out bills and setting up a system to handle them. In addition to her consultations, she has volunteered to lecture on the SHINE program at several housing projects for the elderly.

Regional SHINE Coordinator Deborah Sadowy said, "SHINE is an extremely helpful program to the elderly. It is like a watchdog who makes sure their health information needs are being met. Insurance issues are confusing and frustrating, but this program helps to alleviate some of the frustration. SHINE counselors do tremendous amounts of counseling and paper work and put their heart and soul into these issues for elders. Insurance concerns range anywhere from Kaiser Permanente pulling out of our local community, to helping an elder appeal a nonpayment decision. Over and above [their job requirements] SHINE counselors have met with legislators to inform them of the issues concerning Berkshire County."

Sherman encourages people to volunteer to be part of SHINE saying, "I help elders when they need help—isn't that what God expects of us and isn't that what it is all about as we `walk the walk'?"

Those wishing to volunteer for the SHINE program or to obtain information should contact Deborah Sadowy at Elder Services 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.