Thundermist Health Center

We recently learned that as of January 1, 2025, Commonwealth Care Alliance Rhode Island will no longer offer its Medicare Advantage plans in Rhode Island, including Medicare Preferred, Medicare Value, and Medicare Maximum. (Earlier this fall, WellCare also announced they will discontinue their Medicare offering in RI as of January 1. WellCare will continue to offer a prescription drug plan, however. )

If you need help with Medicare open enrollment or switching plans, you can contact a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor, who can provide free, unbiased help. (Thundermist cannot help with Medicare enrollment.)

Visit the R.I. Office of Healthy Aging website at https://oha.ri.gov/Medicare to find a SHIP counselor near you. Agencies with counselors closest to Thundermist health center locations include:

• Aging Well in Woonsocket (401-766-3734)
• South Kingstown Senior Center in Wakefield (401-789-0268)
• RI SHIP/SMP Line in Cranston (888-884-8721)

Counselors are not affiliated with Thundermist or any health insurance companies, and can give one-on-one guidance based on your situation and needs, including:

• Understanding your Medicare options
• Medicare plan comparisons and enrollment
• Troubleshooting billing issues
• ...and more!

Help spread the word!

Veterans Day is observed every November 11 and honors the individuals who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Today, we think of--and thank--the more than 60,000 veterans who call Rhode Island home, including those who work at Thundermist.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is officially observed on November 20 every year and is dedicated to honoring the memory of individuals whose lives were lost in acts of anti-trans violence.

Two local events are coming up that commemorate TDOR. The first is hosted by Project Weber/RENEW and takes place Thursday, November 14, 6-10 p.m. at the Southside Cultural Center in Providence. (Dinner will be served 6-7 p.m.)
As PWR describes the event: “This event will bring our community together to remember the beautiful trans lives we’ve lost while celebrating their strength and the ways they continue to inspire us. At this year's event, we'll be uplifting stories from our trans community members over the last few decades, honoring generational legacies, resilience, and an ongoing fight for justice. Join us in celebrating the impact and incredible lives of our loved ones as we commit to advancing their work for justice and equality.”

Learn more and register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0gQnI9OwwFQeztGoZWIgBuL5ycivmCAR7eTZxJrkREkmi1w/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawGZ-_NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfHfVXSXqcfumhgHoLWgi9JDQwt_D6ZjoDxcI0FkM-9r2z31V1XF7CuChQ_aem_gZf6krFcRzhRpH_lkCShKQ&pli=1

On Sunday, November 17, TGI Network will host its TDOR event, also at the Southside Cultural Center in Providence, from 7-8 p.m. All are welcome and you can learn more about the event here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/768424775421863/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D

We hope folks can attend one or both. 💙🤍🩷

It's a good day to think about being in community with others.

To that end, we wanted let folks know to save the date for Trans Thanksgiving. Trans, nonbinary, gender diverse people and their invited guests are invited to a free Thanksgiving Day community meal on Thursday, November 28, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The location will be confirmed soon, but the event will take place in Providence.

This event is free. Attendees need not be Thundermist patients. You can RSVP online at Lu.MA/THAT.

The menu will include:

• Hand-carved turkey
• Vegan entrée: stuffed acorn squash
• Green bean casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Cornbread stuffing
• Salad
• Dinner rolls
• Traditional cranberry sauce
• Desserts
• Soft drinks, juice, and water

We’ll have board games and activities. Attendees are welcome to bring their own games, too. Limited transportation assistance will be available. Please let us know if we can help you get to the event when you RSVP. 🧡💛🧡

It's Election Day! (If you have not already voted, please get out there before the polls close and do so...) We all know elections can be stressful for many people--and for many reasons. So we wanted to remind you of a few ways that you can manage stress today and this week. These include:

Exercise
(Take a break and have a walk if possible or get some other form of exercise, even if just for a short while.)

Less Social Media
(It's easy to "doomscroll" or check our phones constantly. See if you take some time away from the websites and apps. Set a timer if it helps.)

Stick With Your Routine
(Do you normally volunteer or see a friend on Tuesdays? Do that! Or is today the day you wanted to get your nails done? Don't skip it.)

Spend Time With Loved Ones ...
( ... and maybe steer clear of talking about politics. Find other ways to enjoy time together and each others' company, such as making dinner together.)

You probably have some of your own tips or routines you like. Check in with your friends and family and ask them how they're taking some time for themselves today too.

It's that time again: the official end of Daylight Savings Time. Don't forget to set your (analog) clocks back one hour on Saturday night before you go to sleep.

We'll officially be on Standard Time from Sunday, November 3, through Sunday, March 9, 2025.

As we head into the weekend before the election, we wanted to remind trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse voters about the TransVoteRI website.

TransVoteRI is a resource Thundermist created in partnership with RI Department of State and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders - GLAD Law. It includes helpful info such as guides to updating your name and gender marker on state and federal identity documents, content on navigating barriers at the polls, and how to get a free voter ID. The site is strictly nonpartisan. Visit it at www.transvoteri.com.

Also don't forget that in RI if you missed the registration deadline to vote, you can go to your local board of canvassers on Tuesday, November 5 (not your polling place) and still vote for president and vice president. See more at the state Board of Elections website: https://elections.ri.gov/voter-resources/presidentvice-president-only-ballot?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2nhWTHPi86sg0x8pFTx8SkgspNDqFi9dK7mkc2CknsJaFBszQRoyYtwiQ_aem_sxcDRZmvHFKzx9IKSlc9TA.

Our staff were definitely in the spirit at all our locations today! We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!🎃👻

Today is the final Farm Fresh Rhode Island West Warwick Farmers Market! Join us from 3-6 p.m. by the community garden at our West Warwick location at 186 Providence St. WIC and SNAP/EBT accepted. Happy shopping!

Today is the last of this season's Farm Fresh Rhode Island Woonsocket Farmers Market! Come through 3-6 p.m. on the patio at our Woonsocket location at 25 John A. Cummings Way. WIC and SNAP/EBT accepted. Happy shopping!

Do you know about TransVoteRI.com?

TransVoteRI is a resource Thundermist created in partnership with RI Department of State and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders - GLAD for trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse voters.

This comprehensive website includes guides to updating your name and gender marker on primary state and federal identity documents. It also contains information about voting in elections, including new content on navigating barriers at the polls, and how to get a free voter ID, based on content from our recent event with the RI Department of State. The site is strictly nonpartisan.

Don’t forget that this resource is available for you and please be sure to share it with others!

Last night, Thundermist’s own Jeanne Ziter, MD, was one of the honorees at the annual "Get the Lead Out" event hosted by Childhood Lead Action Project at The Guild in Pawtucket. CLAP presented Dr. Ziter with the Community Health Champion award alongside honorees such as Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera, among others. CLAP’s mission is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in RI through education, parent support and advocacy. These honors highlight the work individuals have done to support that mission in the community. Congratulations to all of the award winners! You can learn more about CLAP by visiting www.leadsafekids.org.

Reminder! Happening on October 30!

The Womxn Project HQ and Thundermist and are co-sponsoring “Empowered to Advocate," October 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fleet Library at RISD in Providence.

Trans, nonbinary, gender diverse people, their loved ones, and allies are invited to join. Participants will learn how to promote public policies supportive of trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people in their local communities, as well as how to stand up to evolving hate groups.

This particular class will present the impact of "artivism" and the power of the arts in social justice work. Presenters will also discuss election engagement.

RSVP at: bit.ly/EtARISD.

We’re excited to share that our Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Woonsocket is now on social media! You can catch up with them on Facebook and Instagram WIC. In addition, 2024 marks WIC’s 50th anniversary. The Thundermist WIC team will be using social media as a way to not only celebrate that milestone but also share lots of great, useful, fun information with all of you and especially the people who can benefit most from WIC’s services. Give them a follow and help spread the word!

It's that time of year! The updated COVID vaccines are here and you can schedule an appointment with us to get yours by calling 401-767-4100. (If you're not currently a Thundermist patient, ask about getting a first appointment, or you can visit our Convenient Care locations for a shot.)

While you're at, get your flu shot, too! It's safe to get both at the same time, and helps keep you and your loved ones more protected this fall and winter. 💙

It has come to our attention that WellCare will discontinue its Medicare offering in RI, effective December 31, 2024. WellCare will continue to offer a prescription drug plan in the state.

WellCare started mailing notifications to members beginning October 1 to inform them of this change. During the Medicare open enrollment period, which occurs October 15- December 7, members can select a new Medicare Advantage plan for 2025.

Today we recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day. It is a day when we acknowledge the lasting impacts and challenges Indigenous peoples have faced due to colonization, while honoring their sovereignty, resilience, and invaluable contributions to our society, culture, and history. Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to reflect on the history of Indigenous peoples, their resilience, and their ongoing struggles for recognition and rights.

Indigenous Peoples' Day reminds us of the rich diversity of cultures that make up our nation. Thundermist’s health centers are situated on the ancestral land of the Wampanoag, Nipmuc, Pokanoket, and Nahaganset people, and we honor and respect their historical and enduring connection to it.

Please note that on Monday, October 14, we will have limited services at our health center in Woonsocket due to the AutumnFest events taking places that day.

Convenient Care at 450 Clinton Street will be open that day 9 a.m.-5 p.m. but other services will be via telehealth or rescheduled. CVS and Lifespan Labs have also confirmed they will be closed that day.

Thank you for your understanding.