Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15 thru December 7

Get the most out of your Medicare.  Each year, Medicare plans can make changes to their coverage, benefits, and costs.  Every fall, all people with Medicare should review their current health and prescription drug coverage.  Do you, or someone you know, need extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage?  If a person has limited income and resources, they may qualify for “extra help.”

Take the time to gather all the things you’ll need to make a decision about your health and prescription drug coverage.  You’ll need a list of medications you take, a list of providers you want to use, like your doctor or pharmacy, any notice from your plan (called the Annual Notice of Change), Social Security, or Medicare about changes to your costs and coverage for next year, and information about other plans in your area for next year.

You may then visit www.medicare.gov website to compare all of your options, search for plans in your area, and check to see if you qualify for “extra help.”  If you don’t have internet access, open enrollment events have been scheduled in Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Jackson, Jefferson, Tillman and Stephens counties.  Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) Counselors will be at these events to assist with plan comparisons, enrollment, and answer questions regarding Medicare.  Or, you can schedule a private meeting with a MAP Counselor. 

For enrollment event dates and locations, or to schedule a private appointment, contact Vonn Saltzman, Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG), Medicare Assistance Specialist, (580)736-7973 or (800)658-1466.

ASCOG Advocate: September 26, 2014

 

Delta, MaddieLuke and ASCOG staff at the
2014 SWOK Senior Games at the
Simmons Center in Duncan

Medicare:  Six things to know about fall open enrollment.

A Medicare scam that just kept rolling.

The fiscal reality of being a caregiver.

Lawton seniors learned about disaster preparation at the Center for Creative Living.

Minorities are more likely to end up in a long-term care institution.  October is Residents' Rights Month.

Likelihood of later dementia diagnosis higher for those worried about memory loss.

Kathy Greenlee:  Elder abuse...international crisis.

Over 100 seniors were pre-registered for the 20th Annual Southwest Oklahoma Senior Games.

September 23 was National Falls Prevention Awareness Day.

Victoria De La Rosa of Duncan enjoys her time at the
2014 SWOK Senior Games

Free Advocacy Training Offered by ASCOG

ASCOG (Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments) will offer free advocacy training for any person over 18 years old who would like to become an ombudsman volunteer and assist persons with long-term care issues or concerns. The training will be on Wed., Oct. 1 and Thur., Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Great Plains Technology Center, room 623B, 4500 Lee Blvd, Lawton. Contact ombudsman supervisor Ruben Sotelo at ASCOG for detailed information: sote_ru@ascog.org, direct: 580-736-7975 or toll free: 1-800-658-1466..

Ombudsman Supervisor Job Announcement Extended to September 30

ASCOG has an opening for a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Supervisor. Duties include resolving complaints and advocating for residents of long-term care facilities, recruiting, training and supervising volunteers, assistance to individuals regarding care choice, and technical assistance to facility staff.  Documentation and extensive local travel is required. 

 Bachelor’s degree and related experience working with aging individuals required.

Minimum salary is $27,739.

Send resumes to ASCOG Attn:  Nancy English, P O Box 1647, Duncan, OK  73534.  Resumes accepted through Friday, September 30, 2014.  ASCOG is an equal opportunity employer.

ASCOG Advocate: September 12, 2014

Jack Kilby's integrated circuit

On this date, in 1958, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit and would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention.  Where was Kilby employed when he invented the integrated circuit?

One of Medicare's architects died from melanoma.

Julianne Moore stars in "Still Alice," a film depicting a college professor who is diagnosed with Early-onset Familial Alzheimer's.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey plans to introduce legislation that will establish a caregiver corp to help fill the cap in caregiver availability.

Benzodiazepines linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's.

There will be no ASCOG Advocate on September 19 to give staff an opportunity to attend the 2014 Home and Community Based Services Conference.

ASCOG Advocate: September 5, 2014

Churchill, Truman and Stalin at
the Potsdam Conference.

Igor Gouzenko, was a cipher clerk at a Soviet Embassy.  After defecting, he exposed Soviet espionage in North America, marking the beginning of the Cold War on this date in 1945.  What was the name of the country to which he defected?

Medicare and Medicaid are projected to spend billions less than expected over the next ten years according to a new CBO report.

Illinois resident is building her own house despite disabilities.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published "Protecting Residents From Financial Exploitation."

September 7 is Grandparents Day.