2024-2025 Speaker Series 

Stay Safe. Stay Strong. Stay Smart!

St. James NEST’s fourth speaker series focuses on the theme: Stay Safe. Stay Strong. Stay Smart! As residents of St. James, we strive to age successfully in our homes. St. James NEST provides both educational and support services to make that a reality. Please join us for this educational series aimed at offeringsolutions, discussions and tools for aging in place. This series is open to all St. James community residents!

Navigating the US Healthcare System

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 pm

Speakers: Gary Pearson and Janis West, No Place Like Home Caregivers

The complexities of the US healthcare system combined with an increase in personal healthcare needs may leave you feeling frustrated, confused and ultimately, stressed. What do I need? Where do I go? What is covered? Understanding healthcare in the US and the resources available to you is vital to the care you receive. When you lack knowledge, it becomes difficult to be your own best advocate. This session will provide you with a map of the US healthcare maze and guidance from a healthcare navigator on how to work in, around, and through any medical issues, questions and/or services.

From this presentation you will:

•       Understand that medical issues in seniors are complex
•       Eliminate or lessen confusion, anger, and anxiety by knowing how to navigate healthcare
•       Identify the available experienced support and where to obtain it
•       Be empowered as a consumer to ask the right questions and get answers
•       Understand your costs and financial impact

Quality and expeditious healthcare is an important pillar to aging safely in our homes. Knowing who to call, what to ask and how to find solutions to our medical issues makes a huge difference in the healthcare experience. Knowledgeable nurse navigators are available in St. James. In US Healthcare, knowledge is power.

This program represents one event within the 2024-25 St. James NEST Speaker Series themed Stay Safe. Stay Strong. Stay Smart! Nearly 90% of adults over age 50 — across all age, race, income, and health status categories—want to remain at home and “age in place.”  This speaker series addresses some of the issues that might affect your ability to do so.  If you aren’t yet familiar with St. James NEST, its purpose is to provide services and support to St. James' residents to enhance their ability to make aging in place a reality. The 2024-25 Speaker Series is offering programs in September, November, January, March and May. Please check the St. James NEST Events Calendar for details on the other programs. 

Location:  St. James Community Center
Date:  Tuesday, May 20, 2024
Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm including a question and answer session.

Please plan to arrive a few minutes early such that the program can begin on time. The program is FREE to attend, but we strongly suggest you pre-register due to limited seating capacity, in order to ensure you are able to participate.

Please register by clicking on the Registration button, or via the Help Desk at (910)250-8388. Registration closes on September 23rd at 12noon. 

In case you cannot attend, following each event, the materials and recording of the presentation will be posted on the 2024-2025 Speaker Series page, under the Events tab on the website.