Ask any elderly person you know: What is their greatest problem/concern? The answer is sure to be health care expenses and understanding the tangled mess with insurance. Perhaps we can help eliminate some of that stress for you.
It’s that time of year again for all those enrolled in Medicare Part D to decide to stay with your current plan if you’re satisfied with its coverage, or shop around for a policy that better fits your needs. The annual enrollment period is November 15 to December 31.
Medicare beneficiaries in need of enrolling in a Prescription Drug Plan for 2011 can attend a free enrollment event on Friday, Dec. 10, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm here at the Senior Friendship Center, 23 No. Polk Ave., in the Way Bldg.
This event is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida in conjunction with the Department of Elder Affairs SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program, the state health insurance counseling and assistance program funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Individuals interested in getting help comparing plans should be ready with important information about their health and prescription drug coverage. To provide the best assistance, SHINE volunteers will need a list of medications, prescribed dosage the individual takes, a list of providers he or she wants to use (e.g., doctor or pharmacy), and any notices from an existing plan (i.e., Annual Notice of Change), Social Security, or Medicare about changes to costs and coverage for next year.
SHINE volunteers will be available to answer your Medicare questions and/or help you enroll in a Drug Plan for 2011. For more information, contact the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337.
Social Security Questions? Did you know that help is also available at the Center with any Social Security questions or concerns you may have? A representative is here from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Appointments are not taken. You will be seen on a first-come-first-seen basis. This service is free and open to the public regardless of age.
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screenings DeSoto Memorial Hospital Home Health Care visits the Center on the second and fourth Thursday of every month between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Stop by and they will be glad to administer a free blood pressure and/or glucose check for you. This service, too, is free and open to the public regardless of age.
Caregiver Support If you are a Caregiver caring for a loved one, please join us on the third Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m. for our monthly Caregiver Support Group. Sharing ideas and seeking help with concerns from others walking in your same shoes will be beneficial to you as the Caregiver and to your loved one.
Santa Sacks for Seniors As a reminder, Monday, December 13, is our deadline for collecting all of our Santa’s Sacks for Seniors so that we can deliver them in time. Many of our seniors are alone, having outlived family and friends, and for them, our Santa Sack may be the only gift they receive. The joy on their faces as we play “Santa” is a heartwarming experience we look forward to each year. Rest assured your effort will be greatly appreciated.
Remember, together we can make DeSoto County a caring place to grow old.
Karen Blanchette is Director of Senior Friendship Centers of DeSoto County and can be reached at 863-494-5965.