Elder Options activities for December / Medicare Open Enrollment ends Dec. 7
Elder Options Holiday Office Closures
Christmas Holiday Office Closure:
• December 22, 25 and 26, 2023 (Friday, Monday and Tuesday)
New Years Day Holiday Office Closure:
• December 29, 2023 and Jan 1 and 2, 2024 (Friday, Monday and Tuesday)
Volunteer on Tuesday, December 5
In partnership with all eleven Area Agencies on Aging and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Elder Opions is having a statewide Day of Service for International Volunteers Day. Volunteers who are willing and able to participate in this fantastic opportunity, will help our seniors prepare for the up-coming cold weather months. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Lisa Kanarek by email at kanarekl@agingresources.org.
Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7 (began October 15)
Evaluate Your Medicare plan options for 2024
Did you know that those with Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year - things like cost, coverage, drug formularies, and which providers and pharmacies are in their networks? If you have been waiting to make changes to your Medicare Prescription Drug or Medicare Advantage plan, wait no more! The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the time to review and make any necessary changes for the upcoming year.
To receive help from SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), individuals may call to schedule appointments at designated SHINE counseling sites, attend enrollment events in their local communities, or arrange to speak with a trained SHINE counselor at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).
For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and enrollment events, please visit www.floridashine.org.
To join a Medicare health plan, in general, you must:
• Have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
• Live in the service area of the plan you want to join.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
• Have your Medicare Number and your Part A and/or Part B coverage start dates. This information can be found on your Medicare card.
You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) only during the Open Enrollment Period, during October 15 through December 7, 2023.
To learn more, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048 or visit www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan.
Aging Matters Articles: Medicare Open Enrollment through December 7
Elder Options has been sponsoring independent articles focused on aging, called "Aging Matters" in the Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida) for over a year. November's article features Medicare Open Enrollment and some of the dedicated staff and volunteers who assist assist the public with navigating the information. To learn more, visit mainstreetdailynews.com/local-living/aging-matters-navigating-medicare-open-enrollment.
Monday, December 11, 2023 - Online SHINE Medicare Classes
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
Register 24 Hours in Advance
• 10:00 - 11:30 am: Long Term Care Planning
REGISTER HERE:
agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsfu6urTovGtTLdKIVRIxi7vThkp4CTIpP
• 12:30 - 1:30 pm: Medicare Basics
REGISTER HERE:
agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtfuyhrj0iGdR4ZKvAoNHnSYm-m_tjZbnn
• 2:00 - 3:30 pm: Medicare Part C
REGISTER HERE:
agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcO2srz4sHtYmAaE0oSNZIJ6QWVsbQQIS#/registration
SHINE hosts the above live, online Zoom classes for those interested in learning more about Medicare, Medicare financial assistance and the latest in scams. You can join using a computer or by phone. Please register for the classes 24 hours in advance of the class. If you have a question about these classes, please email shine@agingresources.org or call 1-352-692-5209. For additional assistance, call your local Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243 or visit www.AgingResources.org.
To receive help from SHINE, call to schedule an appointment at a designated SHINE counseling site, or attend an enrollment event in your community, speak with a trained SHINE counselor at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and enrollment events, please visit www.FloridaShine.org.
To become a SHINE volunteer, visit www.FloridaShine.org.
Elder Abuse Neglect and Exploitation Training
(Second Tuesday of Every Month, 10:00 - 11:15 am)
Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 10:00 - 11:15 am
]Are you a Professional or Direct Service Provider who works directly with the senior population? This training may be for you! Our Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Training is provided virtually, by Zoom, on the second Tuesday of every month, from 10:00 – 11:15 am. Certificates are provided. We look forward to seeing you! REGISTER for one of our monthly trainings here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcuqorT8oGtIT7zQFNmPyxqbOnzM9GfTC#/registration.
Find a Class or Workshop near you
To find in-person classes and workshops in your area, visit this link: agingresources.org/events
Respiratory Infections
It's not your imagination, during colder months, we’re more susceptible to respiratory infections. Wearing masks, getting vaccinated, improving indoor air quality, and washing your hands are all safe and effective ways to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses like COVID-19, the flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, similar to the common cold). If you need help finding a vaccine, call Elder Options at 1-800-262-2243, or visit www.Vaccines.gov.
Here are just a few of the reasons we get sick this time of year:
• Breathing cold air reduces our nose's ability to fight off viruses, according to a 2022 study by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, which shows that reducing the temperature inside the nose by as little as 9 degrees Fahrenheit kills nearly half of the virus-fighting cells in our nostrils.
• Indoor heating dries out the air, allowing viruses to spread more easily.
• During the holiday season, we spend more time gathering indoors, giving our bodies more opportunities to encounter germs.
Find more tips for staying healthy this winter here: www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick.
Sign up for the Elder Options monthly newesletter:
Sign up for the Elder Options monthly newsletter at this link: AgingResources.org/news.
About Elder Options
The Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (d/b/a Elder Options) was established in 1977 as a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Elder Options is the state-designated area agency on aging (AAA), Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), and Helpline (1-800-262-2243).
The agency is charged with administering state and federal grant-funded programs and providing direct services to benefit elders, people with disabilities, and their informal caregivers in a 16-county Planning and Service Area (PSA) in North Central Florida, which includes: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, and Union counties.
Contact Elder Options
Office Location:
100 SW 75th Street
Suite 301
Gainesville, Florida 32607
Phone Number (Elder Helpline): 1-800-262-2243
Website: AgingResources.org
Email: Options@AgingResources.org