Elder Options senior information and activities for February 2024
February 8, 2024, 10:00 am
Elder Options' ONLINE Open House via Zoom
Join us for our virtual open house! Learn about the Elder Helpline, Medicare Counseling, Wellness programs, Caregiver classes, and more! To attend, please RSVP by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 7, 2023. To learn more about the Open House or to register, please email Bianca at blackshearb@agingresources.org or call (800) 262-2243.
February 2024 is Heart Health Month
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is celebrating American Heart Month this February. Their campaign, "Live to the Beat" includes tips on exercising, eating healthy, managing stress and so much more! Learn more here: www.livetothebeat.org.
Online SHINE Medicare Classes for February, 2024
February 13th, 14th, 19th & 22nd
By SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
If you have questions about the SHINE Medicare classes listed below, please email shine@agingresources.org or call (352) 692-5209.
Medicare Basics
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpfuGrqzgrG9KqurC_078TbDcJaRfjI9d_.
Medicare Part C
Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 am
REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtfu2rqTkpHNTNabEHYrH7wleicMjrLZnX.
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30 pm
REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpdeqorDIsHdcrWVuI01rZDYWOl6IiUy9Y.
Navigating Medicare.gov
Monday, February 19, 2024 Monday 12:00 - 1:30 pm
REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvf-ihrz0sEtf3KDZf8PGITTC3OFO4pGzE.
Long Term Care Planning
Thursday, February 22, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 am
REGISTER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtde-srTgjH9ODAL6lpXfCl7rk6EOv2-xL.
January 1 – March 31, 2024
Medicare Advantage Plan OPEN ENROLLMENT
If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you now have an opportunity to switch plan types or switch back to original Medicare. For details, please call Florida SHINE at 800-963-5337, visit www.floridashine.org or the National SHIP site at www.shiphelp.org.
Aging Matters - About Vaccines
Elder Options is sponsoring a series of independently written articles focused on aging in our community. The series is called "Aging Matters" and it runs each month in the Main Street Daily News. This month, the focus is on aging and vaccinations. To read the article, visit www.mainstreetdailynews.com/local-living/aging-matters-vaccine-debate-seniors
Speaking of vaccines, during February, love is in the air, but so are germs! Wash your hands, and keep up with your vaccines. Protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season by getting vaccinated - the best defense against the flu virus. Don't let the flu sideline you – schedule your flu shot and stay healthy during flu season!
Monday, February 19, 2024, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Elder Law Panel
Join us on February 19 at the Fairway Christian Church in The Villages for our next Elder Panel. Experts will cover topics that will include advance directives, estate planning and more. REGISTER HERE: agingresources.org/event/elder-law-panel-fairway-christian-church. Fairway Christian Church is located at 8400 E. County Road 466 in The Villages, Florida (phone 352-259-9305, email info@fairwaycc.org and website fairwaycc.org).
Tell Congress: Please ensure that Medicare is affordable to All
Congress has not authorized and provided funding for Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) low-income outreach and assistance programs. MIPPA has received bipartisan support for the past 15 years. This could significantly hamper Area Agencies on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Centers, like Elder Options and our SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program. We rely on this funding to conduct targeted outreach and assist people in enrolling in Medicare Savings Programs, as well as Low Income Subsidy.
MIPPA funding directly impacts eligible Medicare beneficiaries, especially those who are:
• Low-income with limited resources.
• Residents of rural areas.
• Members of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.
• People with disabilities under age 65.
• Speakers of English as a second language.
To write an email to Congress urging them to support MIPPA, please click on this LINK from the National Council on Aging: act.ncoa.org/a/mippa.
North Central Florida Senior Advocacy Network
Working on better ways to address elder abuse, neglect and exploitation
The NCF Senior Advocacy Network is a collaboration of public and private health, legal, law enforcement, community and social service organizations dedicated to addressing elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Stopping the exploitation and enhancing consumer protections of aging adults is the primary focus NCF Senior Advocacy Network. The network is deeply committed to working on advocacy, education and training to protect aging adults. The network strongly depends on a collaboration of community members that have a commitment and passion for protecting and enhancing the lives of our seniors here in Florida.
The NCF Senior Advocacy Network meets bi-monthly to share information, identify gaps in services, discuss best practices, and explore ideas to prevent and respond to elder mistreatment. We are not a service or referral organization, but welcome those organizations to the conversation. Membership is open to any individual or organization interested in education and advocacy for elder justice, specifically in the case of elder financial exploitation. For more information, please contact Leslie Andrews by email at andrewsl@agingresouces.org or (352) 692-5228.
Sign Up for the Elder Options Newsletter
Sign up to receive the Elder Options newsletter here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/hBTH05S/elderoptions?source_id=97b526c7-1dd4-41cb-81ab-01a50bda59fe&source_type=em&c=5YocMWFVLSYMdv1bMKZ6lLwfQNInvPi5srfvr_JnWkQ-6bJ8azSF9A==.
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