It’s the first Tuesday of the month, which means it’s Seniors Day at Walgreens.
At a Walgreens on Chicago’s North Side, located near two senior living facilities, a bus pulls up at 9:30 a.m. every Seniors Day to drop-off residents, who look forward to a shopping excursion with a 20% discount off regular priced items*, to stock up on the over-the-counter medicines, makeup, health and wellness products, at-home COVID-19 tests (no cost at-home COVID-19 tests are available with most insurance plans through May 11, 2023), and other goods they’ll need for the next month.
“Seniors really anticipate coming into the store for Seniors Day because most of them live on a fixed income and the savings are meaningful to them,” says Amanda Chehade, manager of the store.
Walgreens Seniors Day offers its discount to seniors who are aged 55-plus, or AARP members, with deals available both in-store and all week on Walgreens.com with code SENIOR20 at checkout (Sunday-Saturday of that week). At checkout, seniors should let a Walgreens team member know they are shopping with the Seniors Day discount for the savings to apply to their purchase. Those with Medicare Advantage over-the-counter benefits are encouraged to ask team members how to take advantage of their benefit while in store.
For these particular Chicago seniors, the day provides more than just great savings on their necessary staples. They also get to enjoy the experience of stepping out for some shopping and socializing.
The COVID-19 Pulse Check, a recent survey conducted by Walgreens, shows seniors are still rebuilding their lives from the COVID pandemic, with 17 million (42%) of those aged 55-plus saying they are less socially active now than they were before the pandemic, and 8.2 million seniors (20%) feeling lonelier now than before the pandemic. Chehade says she sees it every day in her store.
“A lot of the seniors who live in the nearby facilities don't get many visitors, so they love to come into our store and chat with all the team members,” says Chehade. “They know us by name, and we encourage our team members to get to know them by name as well. They want to chat about their week and ask us how everything is going with our lives. Coming to Walgreens is exciting for them, and that's why they look forward to it.”
CJ Jackson, who has worked at the Chicago location for more than eight years, agrees.
“I’m a senior myself, so I know Walgreens is a great place for seniors to shop,” says Jackson. “We try to make interactions with our senior customers as personal as possible because the ability to connect with people who don’t normally get a lot of personal contact is rewarding. Every time they come into the store we ask them ‘How are you doing today?’ They always have a lot to talk about.”
The staff at this location makes it a point not only to know their senior customers, but to go out of their way to help them, inside the store and out. Because some seniors don’t have a caregiver to help them, and with the store being so close to the senior living facilities, team members often walk their customers back home, carrying their bags for them. And once a week, someone from the store delivers prescriptions to the facilities at no charge for those who can’t make it into the store.
Lynn Grove lives at one of the nearby assisted living facilities and is a regular shopper who estimates she comes into the store an average of three times per week to pick up prescriptions and everyday essentials.
“The discount for seniors like me helps immensely,” she says. “And the staff here is really friendly. I’m greeted by name every time I walk in the door, which makes me feel good that they value me enough to know who I am. So, that makes it fun to stay in the store for as long as I need to get everything on my list. It’s an enjoyable experience.”
As Jackson rings up Grove’s purchases at the front counter, Jackson performs a song and dance. “No charge for the entertainment,” she jokes. “Oh, CJ, thank you for always making my day when I come in here,” Grove replies with a laugh.
Watch Walgreens customers talk about why Seniors Day is important to them.
* Discount not valid on alcohol, dairy, tobacco, stamps, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, money orders/transfers, transportation passes, lottery tickets, charitable donations, pseudoephedrine or ephedrine products, clinic services, prescriptions, pharmacy items or services, sales tax, the Prescription Savings Club membership fee, and items or services submitted to insurance for reimbursement or where otherwise limited by law. Offer is not combinable with Buy 1 get 1 FREE, Buy 1 get 1 50% off, or Buy 2 get 3rd FREE. Offer does not apply to bulk orders, back-ordered items, and out-of-stock items.