Arlene has lived a healthy, active life so far. At 86, she recognizes this as a blessing.
She’s also a realist. “At my age, I know there are some things I can’t fully fix or overcome. It’s about maintaining my health and independence as long as possible.”
After early retirement from a demanding property and casualty insurance career, she traveled the country in an RV for many years before settling in Florida to be near family. 30 years later, she relocated to Boone, NC to be close to her daughter.
It wasn’t the move that left her overwhelmed, but the issues she faced finding quality medical care in her new home. “I had to navigate a maze to find a doctor when I moved here. It was stressful.” she explained, adding, “And I know more about Medicare than most because of my insurance career.”
Thankfully, Arlene’s luck in finding a quality healthcare provider who accepted Medicare was about to change.
Hopscotch Primary Care’s Boone clinic location celebrated its grand opening in August 2024. It’s within walking distance of the independent living community Arlene calls home.
She noticed Hopscotch representatives spent time in her community, explaining their unique approach to primary care for seniors.
“Three things in their pitch stood out to me,” she shared; “They said they were not going to abide by 15-minute appointments, that they were solely focused on serving the healthcare needs of seniors, and that they were going to have an auxiliary staff of people who understood Medicare and would be available for that type of help.”
Though intrigued, Arlene admitted to some initial skepticism about the promises made. “I’ve been dealing with senior healthcare for many years and I have opinions about it,” she explained, adding, “I had my doubts they could pull off what they were promising. I thought it sounded too good to be true at first.”
Soon, her curiosity won out, and she decided to give Hopscotch a try.
From her first moments in the clinic, she realized Hopscotch was as different as they claimed.
“I could tell from my initial impression that they’re a well-run organization. It gave me confidence that they’ll be there for me when I need anything.”
For Arelene, Hopscotch’s focus on service extends to every aspect of her care. “I feel very welcome when I walk into the clinic,” she said, adding, “My experience is that there will maybe be one other person waiting. They don’t overbook themselves like other places,” she explained, noting “It makes me feel like they value my time.”
Arlene also bonded instantly with her Hopscotch provider, Family Nurse Practitioner, Kari Morris.
Learn more about Kari in our recent interview with her.
“The first time I saw Kari,” she recalled, “we had a lengthy discussion and she was very open and explained how I would receive care through Hopscotch. She said their goal was to keep me out of the hospital, which rang true to me. I see lots of folks go out to the hospital and not come back,” she said, adding, “That’s a big goal of mine, too.”
“I was in from that first appointment,” Arlene asserted, explaining: “Kari showed me Hopscotch wasn’t making empty promises. She knows her stuff and seemed confident in every subject that I needed support in.” she stated, adding “Being in the career I was in, I have a very high bar for how medical practitioners conduct themselves.”
Hopscotch cleared the first bar for Arlene, and she became a patient. But could they continue to deliver the level of healthcare service she desired?
“Working with Hopscotch absolutely makes me feel more in control of my health,” she readily admitted. “I feel supported by Hopscotch in my health goals. I know they’re there for me and are trustworthy.”
“Kari tailors everything to me and what I need. I feel comfortable talking with her and asking her questions. She listens to me. Sometimes,” she added with a laugh, “I almost feel like I’m invading because she’ll sit there as long as I have something to say and will go down any path I want to explore.”
Arlene also continues to enjoy the clinic experience. “Everyone in the clinic knows me now and they always greet me warmly. I never feel like a number.”
Arlene is grateful her health issues remain fairly minor. “I have a mild onset of COPD but no other chronic health conditions,” she explained. “I recently fell twice and that’s a big deal at my age. Kari and I talked about it and she really listened to my thoughts and preferences about rehab and readily agreed to what I wanted. She’s helping me ensure it doesn’t happen again and lets me take the lead in how we approach things.”
Arlene is aware that, at her age, things can change quickly with her health. She’s motivated to stay on the preventative side of care for as long as possible. She appreciates Hopscotch’s focus on quality preventative care for seniors like her.
“Because I’m relatively healthy, mobility is very important to me. I think maintaining mobility and physical strength are the keys to my independence,” she explained.
She’s extremely grateful to have a true partner in her health and wellness goals, both now and in the future.
“Hopscotch helps me stay on the preventative side of things. And I know that when something happens that I require their attention they will be there for me. They know me and I trust them very much. It gives me peace of mind,” she stated, noting, “I feel like I have so much more access to their expertise than in prior doctor’s offices where I was seen for 15 minutes and sent off.”
For Arlene, Hopscotch’s approach to care has been a welcome change. “I appreciate that Hopscotch takes a more holistic approach. They’re so individually directed,” she noted, explaining, “Other doctors’ offices I’ve been to almost feel like going to the Emergency Room. They focus on just one thing. Hopscotch understands that it’s never just about just one thing. They’re interested in all of me,” she noted. “They also understand that what’s going on might not be addressed with another prescription or panel of bloodwork.”
Arlene recognizes how Hopscotch’s focus on comprehensive care takes her full life into account. “They’re interested in things that impact my ability to access what I need, like the costs of medications and how I’m doing during open enrollment. They understand that this is also a big part of the healthcare picture for seniors. It can be scary and overwhelming. They consider things other providers don’t.”
Arlene understands the value Hopscotch provides, especially when it comes to caring for older adults. “Seeing a doctor whose next appointment is with a teenager means they just don’t have the time or focus to know what folks my age need from our medical care. Things can be more difficult, complex, and challenging for us and we need people who understand that. We need personalized care. The care Hopscotch provides and their approach is at the heart of what we need,” she concluded, adding, “I don’t know how they do it, but thank God they do.”
Arlene admitted her definition of quality of life has evolved as she’s aged. That’s why she’s grateful to have a partner in health who listens and meets her where she is. “To me, quality of life means staying mobile and independent,” she explained. “It’s less about quantity and more about quality of life for me.”
Shedding light on how her Hopscotch provider has helped her address this goal, she stated, “If I’ve had a fall and I go in to see Kari, she has a way of making me feel that I’m part of the decision of what we’re going to do. If I have a valid reason why I prefer not to do something, she’ll listen.”
Arlene recognizes this isn’t the norm. “With other doctors, there’s an attitude that they know best and you’d better listen to them. With Hopscotch, it’s more of a conversation where we work to reach a co-objective,” she explained, adding, “I feel involved and in control of my health decisions with Hopscotch. Hopscotch has given me a partner in my healthcare that meets me where I am and doesn’t preach to me. They’re here for me now and are also available if issues go beyond what I have any opinion on or choice about.”
Arlene faced a recent health challenge she would have struggled to manage alone. Hopscotch was there for her.
“At the start of this year, I suddenly found myself facing a thousand dollar bill for a medication I need for my COPD,” she began, adding, “I’d hate to think about what would have happened if I wasn’t able to get it or I couldn’t afford it. Breathing is important!”
She decided to see if Hopscotch could help. “I called and explained my situation,” she went on, “The woman I spoke to said ‘Actually, I can help you.’ She took it over and ended up solving the situation for me. I couldn’t believe how much help they were,” she concluded, still thrilled with the outcome.
“Kari and the staff were all helping me,” she added. “They know I want to remain as mobile as I can and that requires oxygen. It was important to me and Hopscotch worked with me on it until it was fixed. It was a big deal and they stepped up for me when I needed them.”
Arlene has also taken advantage ofof Hopscotch’s patient support services. She recently received timely guidance from Hopscotch Boone’s Patient Relations Manager.
“When it came to my 2025 preparedness, I talked to the Patient Relations Manager. He gave me a lot of local information and was very resourceful to me,” she concluded, noting “It’s wonderful to have someone to bounce ideas off of and ensure I’m correct in my thoughts. He helped me make my decisions for 2025.”
After feeling increasingly frustrated and discouraged with the healthcare options she found as a senior who qualified for Medicare, Arlene was thrilled to connect with Hopscotch Primary Care.
“For people my age, it can be formidable to find a decent doctor who accepts Medicare. For us, it’s really about quality of life more than anything else. Hopscotch understands that,” she stated, adding, “Hopscotch helps me proactively control what I can control and Kari lets me take the lead and shows me respect.”
“Hopscotch gives me help I can depend on,” she admitted, “They’ve helped me more than some specialists I’ve seen.”
For Arlene, connecting with Hopscotch has given her added peace of mind and a partner in health to support her to enjoy her best life.
She’s grateful Hopscotch meets her where she is in her health journey. “I know I can’t change getting older,” she stated, “But my day-to-day life is still within my control. I’d like to feel more stable and I want to feel empowered to manage my COPD,” she explained, adding “Hopscotch jumped right in to help me manage things.”
“They offer a much better situation for people my age,” she concluded, confidently. “Their approach is designed for seniors like me, and they’re adamant about it because they know it’s worth it.”
Connecting with Hopscotch has given Arlene a partner in collaborative, comprehensive care that she’s grateful to have at this time in her life.
Interested in becoming a Hopscotch patient? Get started easily online, find your nearest clinic location, and learn more about the conditions we specialize in treating.