The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP is dedicated to providing free prevention and early detection health services to the nation’s underserved communities. Now through December, the tour travels the country providing free tests, assessment, education and consulting services to populations of communities with the highest prevalence for leading diseases and uninsured and unemployed community members.
These free health tests include: total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight.
The Way to Well Health Tour is a charitable component of Walgreens Way to Well Commitment®, a four-year, $100 million initiative improving the everyday health of Americans nationwide. The initiative also provides accessible, affordable resources for prevention and early detection of major chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
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* Schedules are updated weekly, please check back often. Event times and locations are subject to change.
Depending on current wait time, registration may close prior to stated event end time.
For Non-Walgreen store locations, contact the event directly or visit their website for more information.
Health Tests
The bundle of free health tests and risk assessments provided by Way to Well Health Tour is designed to provide participants with personal health insights that may indicate potential risks for cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Tests include total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight. Collectively, the health tests are valued at over $100, are administered to adults age 18 years and older by certified wellness staff. This is a free service —insurance will not be billed. Tests can be completed in approximately 20 minutes. Afterward, participants will consult with a Walgreens pharmacist or certified wellness staff about his or her results.
Here's more detail about how the tests are administered and each test’s impact on prevention and early detection:
- Total Cholesterol Levels— High blood cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke according to the American Heart Association (AHA)*. Simple blood tests can raise awareness of high blood cholesterol as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the first step toward modifying lifestyle to reduce risk. That’s why it’s important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly and discuss your cholesterol levels with your doctor. This test is administered through a quick, painless finger prick and takes about five minutes to process. Fasting is not required for accurate results.
- Glucose Levels— Blood glucose testing is used to screen individuals for diabetes risk. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that 25.8 million individuals in the United States — 8.3% of the population — have diabetes, and seven million of those individuals are undiagnosed**. The blood sample obtained from the finger prick administered for the total cholesterol levels’ health test will also be used to determine glucose levels.
- Blood Pressure— High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic conditions in adults according to the AHA*. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it has few or no symptoms, so you may not be aware that high blood pressure is damaging your arteries, heart and other organs. The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. The test is done easily, quickly and painlessly using a cuff around the upper arm to measure the force of blood as it travels through the artery.
- The "Way to Well" Health Tour's Comprehensive Weight Assessment Test efficiently and effectively measures seven key weight and fat indicators using one device. The seven-in-one test helps you better know your overall health and includes: Body Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Percentage, Skeletal Muscle, Body Age, Resting Metabolism and Visceral Fat. The test is administered using non-invasive body sensing technology in a device similar to a floor-based scale. The test accurately reports:
- Body Weight: shows a person’s weight and is used to determine other indicators seen below
- Body Mass Index (BMI): is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for people. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat. BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for adults
- Body Fat Percentage: Body fat serves a vital role in storing energy and protecting internal organs. We carry two types of fat in our bodies: 1) essential fat, which is stored in small amounts to protect the body and 2) stored fat, which is stocked for energy during physical activity. While too much body fat may be unhealthy, having too little fat can be just as unhealthy. Also, the distribution of body fat in men and women is different, so the basis for classifying the body fat percentage is different between the genders
- Skeletal Muscle Percentage: Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that we can see and feel. When you work out to increase muscle mass, skeletal muscle is being exercised. Skeletal muscles attach to the skeleton and come in pairs -- one muscle to move the bone in one direction and another to move it back the other way. Increasing skeletal muscle will help your body burn more calories by using more energy. Building skeletal muscle can help prevent “rebound” weight gain. The maintenance and increase of skeletal muscle is closely linked to resting metabolism rate
- Body Age: is based on your resting metabolism. Body age is calculated by using your weight, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle percentage to produce a guide to whether your body age is above or below the average for your actual age
- Resting Metabolism: is the energy required to maintain vital functions. Regardless of your activity level, a minimum level of caloric intake is required to sustain the body’s everyday functions. This indicates how many calories you need to ingest in order to provide enough energy for your body to function (minus any calories used for exercise or regular daily activities). If your daily caloric intake exceeds the amount of energy required for these activities, the additional calories can be stored as fat
- Visceral Fat: Carrying weight around the middle abdomen is an example of visceral fat. Other fat, stored Visceral fat has been linked to metabolic issues and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In women, it is also associated with breast cancer and the gallbladder problems. The good news is that visceral fat can be easier to lose and benefits range from lower blood pressure to more favorable cholesterol levels. Subcutaneous fat located at the waist — the pinchable fat — can be frustratingly difficult to lose, but in normal-weight people, it’s generally not considered as much of a health threat. Abdominal fat is more likely than fat stored in other spots to lead to changes in hormone levels and to cause inflammation, which in turn leads to clogged arteries.
The American Cancer Society’s educational health and wellness resources are also featured on the Tour and provide insight on the eight ways the American Cancer Society recommends people take control of their health and reduce their risk of cancer:***
- Stay away from tobacco
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get moving with regular physical activity
- Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Limit how much alcohol you drink
- Protect your skin from excess sun exposure
- Know your body, your family history, and your health risks
- Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests
* Walgreens is a proud sponsor of the American Heart Association. This information is based on the knowledge and experience of American Heart Association’s medical experts. To learn more about heart health and prevention of heart disease, please visit www.heart.org.
** Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (released Jan. 26, 2011). The American Diabetes Association is a Walgreens “Way to Well Health Tour” cause partner. To learn more, visit www.diabetes.org.
*** American Cancer Society’s healthy lifestyle recommendations. For more ways to stay healthy and to learn more about prevention and early detection, visit www.cancer.org.
Tour Information
The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP travels the country delivering free health testing, health education and consultation to adults 18-years and older. This initiative makes health tests more accessible to underserved communities that need it the mostthose with the highest prevalence for leading diseases and are unemployed or underinsured.
During tour stops, a certified wellness staff administers free health tests and risk assessments while providing participants with personal health insights that may indicate potential risks for cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Tests include total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight. Completed in roughly 20 minutes, these tests provide results immediately.
The nationwide tour features four customized, traveling, education and health-testing buses. Each bus spends 3-4 weeks in designated cities providing free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and many more.
The Way to Well Health Tour is partially funded by customers who support the Walgreens wellness services mission by purchasing Walgreens brand health and wellness products. Beginning February 1, 2013 through December, 2013, 1 cent from the purchase of every Walgreens brand health and wellness product, up to $3 million annually, will support bringing preventive wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund®.
Way to Well Health Resources
The Walgreens Way to Well Commitment® focuses on improving your everyday health through the prevention and early detection of today's leading diseases, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Here are some helpful resources to track your health and learn more about our cause partners.
The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP is one of the charitable programs that is part of the Walgreens Way to Well Commitment®, which began in 2011 as a four-year, $100 million initiative to improve the everyday health of Americans nationwide. The initiative also is dedicated to providing accessible, affordable resources for prevention and early detection of chronic diseases heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death in the U.S., while diabetes is the nations fastest-growing disease over the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CheckUp America is an American Diabetes Association program working to help people lower their risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Walgreens Balance Rewards
Get rewarded for living a healthy lifestyle! Visitors will be able to sign up for Walgreens Balance® Rewards program at tour stop locations. Its easy to join and gives members access to sale prices plus opportunities to get points on eligible prescriptions*, immunizations, healthy behaviors and featured items each week. When members choose to redeem their accumulated points, they are rewarded with dollars off a future purchase made in store and online.
Visit Walgreens.com/balance to learn more.
*Due to state and federal laws, points cannot be earned or redeemed on some items, and points will not be earned in a transaction where Redemption Dollars are used. Points will not be awarded to anyone who is currently, or was at any time in the 6 months prior to purchasing Pharmacy Items, covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare or any other government-funded healthcare program. Pharmacy Items must be purchased at participating Walgreens Drugstore, Rxpress, Duane Reade, or Walgreens Pharmacy locations (Participating Stores) to earn points. Excludes Pharmacy Items purchased from AR, NJ or NY pharmacies and prescriptions transferred to a Participating Store in AL, MS, OR or PR. At Participating Stores located in AR, NJ, and NY where points cannot be earned on Excluded Pharmacy Items, Balance Rewards Members will earn 10 points per $1 spent at those locations for every purchase of a non-prescription vitamin or cough, cold, pain or sleep medication. For terms and conditions, visit Walgreens.com/Balance.
Newsroom
Welcome to the Way to Well Health Tour newsroom. Here you will find Tour press materials and videos.
Walgreens Way To Well Health Tour with AARP provides underserved communities with free health tests
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About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment security and retirement planning. We advocate for consumers in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP VIVA, a bilingual news source. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
FAQ
The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP will travel the country to deliver free health testing, health education and consultation to adults 18 and older in an effort to make health tests more accessible to underserved communities located predominantly in cities with the highest prevalence for leading diseases, and highest uninsured and unemployed populations.
During tour stops, a certified wellness staff administers free health tests and risk assessments designed to provide participants with personal health insights that may indicate symptoms and risks for cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Tests include total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight. Tests can be completed in approximately 20 minutes and results are provided on-site.
The nationwide tour features four customized, traveling education and health-testing buses. Each bus will spend 3-4 weeks in designated cities providing free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and many more sites.
Both AARP and Walgreens are focused on improving the health and quality of life in communities across the nation. The Walgreens Way to Well Commitment® is focused on improving everyday health through the prevention and early detection of today's leading diseases, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. AARP’s aim is to bring free testing and health awareness directly to those who may otherwise not have the resources for and access to affordable health care. AARP and Walgreens collaborated to develop a schedule that puts a special emphasis on diverse and underserved communities with high instances of chronic disease. By reaching out to people in communities that are traditionally underserved, the Health Tour is targeting areas that most need attention and care.
Last year Walgreens established the Walgreens Way to Well Commitment®, a four-year, $100 million initiative to improve the everyday health of Americans nationwide. The initiative also is dedicated to providing accessible, affordable resources for prevention and early detection of chronic diseases.
The Way to Well Health Tour is partially funded by consumers who support the Walgreens wellness services mission by purchasing Walgreens brand health and wellness products. Up to $3 million annually from the purchase of Walgreens brand health and wellness products goes to the Walgreens Way to Well Fund.
The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP will offer ten free health tests, for a total value of over $100 including:
Total Cholesterol Levels - High blood cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Simple blood tests can raise awareness of high blood cholesterol as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the first step toward modifying lifestyle to reduce risk. That’s why it’s important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly and discuss your cholesterol levels with your doctor. This test is administered through a quick, painless finger prick and takes about five minutes to process. Fasting is not required for accurate results.
High Blood Pressure - High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic conditions in adults according to the AHA. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it has few or no symptoms, so you may not be aware that high blood pressure is damaging your arteries, heart and other organs. The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. The test is done easily, quickly and painlessly using a cuff around the upper arm to measure the force of blood as it travels through the artery
Comprehensive Weight Assessment Test - The “Way to Well” Health Tour’s Comprehensive Weight Assessment Test efficiently and effectively measures seven key weight and fat indicators using one device. The seven-in-one test helps you better know your overall health and includes: Body Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Percentage, Skeletal Muscle, Body Age, Resting Metabolism and Visceral Fat. The test is administered using non-invasive body sensing technology in a device similar to a floor-based scale
Glucose Levels - Blood glucose testing is used to screen individuals for diabetes risk. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that 25.8 million individuals in the United States – 8.3% of the population – have diabetes, and seven million of those individuals are undiagnosed. The blood sample obtained from the finger prick administered for the total cholesterol levels’ health test will also be used to determine glucose levels.
No appointment is necessary for the free health tests, and visitors do not need health insurance. A team of dedicated, trained wellness staff will be conducting the tests on a first-come, first-served basis. For specific Information about tour hours and other details, visit www.walgreens.com/waytowell.
To find out more information about the Walgreens Way to Well Tour with AARP, visit www.walgreens.com/waytowell.
No, visitors do not have to be AARP members to receive the free health tests. Our health testing service is convenient, free and important for all adults 18 and older.
After the health tests are performed, a pharmacist or wellness staff member provides the results and reviews them with the consumer. Visitors have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish, including information from our cause partners: American Heart Association (AHA), American Cancer Society (ACS), American Diabetes Association (ADA), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Additionally, they will receive a free one-year AARP membership for new or existing members. Consumers are encouraged to visit their Walgreens pharmacist, doctor or health care provider with any concerns.
Yes. Although the health tests take place on the bus, if a person is disabled or needs assistance the Wellness Tour staff will make the necessary accommodations, which may involve conducting select tests in a private area outside of the bus.
Yes. Free, one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive health tests as a gift from Walgreens. Participants under the age of 50 can either give the free membership to an eligible adult or join as an Associate member. Existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status. Associate membership is designed for those under 50 who support the association's goals and objectives, and offers many, but not all member benefits. Once an Associate member celebrates a 50th birthday, they automatically become a full member and can take advantage of all AARP benefits and services. Associate members do not receive an official membership card, but a confirmation letter of membership should be received within 8 to 12 weeks. In all cases, the free membership must be activated by filling out, and mailing, the postage-paid application on the brochure. As a courtesy to the customers, a collection box will be present on the event site for consumers to deposit the filled out membership application cards. The Health Tour staff will then mail the cards at the end of the day.
The aim of the Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP is to make free services and health awareness more accessible by bringing it directly to your community. The goal is to make health tests more accessible to underserved communities. Cities with the highest prevalence for leading diseases, and highest uninsured and unemployed populations were chosen.
Yes, each Wellness bus has at least one bilingual certified staff member on site.
After the health tests are performed, a pharmacist or wellness staff member provides the results and reviews them with the consumer. Visitors have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish. Additionally, they will receive a free one-year AARP membership offer. Visitors are encouraged to see their Walgreens pharmacist, doctor or health care provider with any concerns.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which provides health coverage for 100 million people through administering Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. CMS works to make sure that the beneficiaries in these programs are able to get high quality health care.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure with dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Programs help reach uninsured children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to get private coverage.
Preventive healthcare is critical to better individual health and a stronger healthcare system. That’s why the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is teaming up with the Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP to provide Americans with important preventive health care services and information. Through interaction at the community level, CMS hopes to increase understanding and utilization of the critical preventive benefits - such as wellness visits, cancer screenings and immunizations - covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance.
At select stops on the tour, CMS representatives will be on-the-ground to talk with tour participants about how to get more information and sign up for Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and other government assistance programs that help individuals and families access preventive health care services. For those already enrolled or caring for someone on Medicare, CMS will provide resources which will help them take advantage of important benefits like the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, yearly wellness visits, vaccinations and other services covered by Medicare.
To find out more information, please visit medicare.gov or medicaid.gov.