1 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Registered radiologist Kathy Tate of Huntsville Hospital does a test on Stephen Savelle's foot to check his bone density. Savelle is the husband of retired Army Reserve Lt. Col. Margaret Savelle, sitting in the background. They live in Tullahoma, Tenn. (Photo Credit: Kari Hawkins, USAG Redstone )VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Retired Master Sgt. Bob Dunkin learns about the Project Lifesaver program from Madison County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Brown. Project Lifesaver is a locating system using a personalized bracelet that emits a tracking signal that can be located when its wearer is lost. Project Lifesaver is made possible through funding raised by the Pilot Club of Huntsville. (Photo Credit: Kari Hawkins, USAG Redstone )VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Retired Sgt. 1st Class Tony Jones of Manchester, Tenn., gets his cholesterol and glucose checked by registered nurse Sue Morgan of Huntsville Hospital. The Retiree Appreciation Day health fair, coordinated by Fox Army Health Center, offered several health screenings and health information. (Photo Credit: Kari Hawkins, USAG Redstone )VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Retired Staff Sgt. Jackie Garnett and her husband, retired Master Sgt. Jerry Garnett, talk with Michael Schotten of McAbee Medical about medical equipment and health products that can be purchased for those suffering from mobility issues. (Photo Credit: Kari Hawkins, USAG Redstone )VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Retired National Guard 1st Sgt. James Allison takes a blood pressure test with the help of medical assistant Daidre Hazley of Tennessee Valley Internal Medicine. (Photo Credit: Kari Hawkinws, USAG Redstone )VIEW ORIGINAL
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- From cholesterol screenings to hearing aid information, from pharmacy services to medical equipment reviews, from Land Trust recreational offerings to Madison County's Project Lifesaver, there were plenty of health options on display Sept. 19 during the Retiree Appreciation Day Health Fair at The Summit.
Sixty-one vendors were on hand to talk with military retirees about medical and health services meant to improve their quality of life. As an added bonus, retirees could get a free flu shot at a drive-thru lane set up in the parking lot of the nearby Overlook.
The event was hosted by Fox Army Health Center. Sheila Derochemont, health promotions coordinator at Fox, has been planning the Health Fair for about three months.
"Our retirees have been waiting for this. They started coming in this morning before we were even opened up," she said.
"They look forward to this every year because it's all about them. It's all about giving them what they need and taking care of retirees. We want them to know they are special to us."
Derochemont worked to include a variety of vendors that could offer lots of different services to retirees.
"Our main goal is to be able to bring screenings to them that they usually don't get. We want them to be more aware so we're trying to bring health awareness to them. We want to ensure good care for them," she said.
"We want them to know we will be here for them no matter what."
In his presentation at Saturday's information sessions, Fox commander Col. David Carpenter said military retirees represent about 80 percent of the patients seen at Fox. About 350 flu shots were given at the drive-thru.
"We put you at the center of what we do," he told the retirees.
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