The Senior Enrichment Center will host two programs of interest to seniors this week.

Randall Mercier, M.D., FACP, and Jason Clewis, D.C. will combine their expertise in internal and chiropractic medicine and present an informative program with a focus on fitness and bone health from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Senior Enrichment Center.

Mercier, a longtime proponent of the connection between fitness and health, will discuss bone health. Clewis concentrates on sports injuries and extremity pain in his chiropractic practice. He bases his muscular therapy on a practice called Active Release Technique (ART), applied by using specific pressure and tension on the muscle. Medical research currently refers to ART as the most effective technique for treating soft-tissue conditions.

Thursday, April 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Barry Mowbray, Eastern Piedmont Area regional manager with the N.C. Department of Insurance Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will present the "ABCs of Medicare."

The Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) answers questions and counsels Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug plans, long-term care insurance and other health insurance concerns. SHIIP counselors offer free and unbiased counseling on Medicare health care products. The North Carolina SMP Program provides assistance with Medicare/Medicaid billing errors, fraud and abuse.

The program was created in 1986 by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, and has become the link between senior citizens and information about their health insurance.

Since the program's creation, SHIIP has become a role model for other states. SHIIP has received two national awards for "innovative" and "exemplary" service.

There will be opportunity for questions and answers.

Call 215-0900 to reserve a seat for either of these programs.

The Senior Enrichment Center is located at 8040 U.S. 15-501 (two miles north of the Traffic Circle).