Elder Options upcoming events, March and April 2024
March 6, 7 and 28, 2024
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) will be hosting LIVE online Zoom classes for anyone interested in learning more about Medicare, Medicare Financial Assistance and the latest in Scams! Register 24 hours in advance of the class you want to attend at the links listed below. Join classes via computer or phone! If you have questions about the SHINE Medicare classes listed below, please email shine@agingresources.org or call (352) 692-5209.
Medicare Basics - Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Register 24 hours in advance: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsce2sqDsuHdfEM03zu8wGF2fgLryQmw77#/registration
Medicare Part C - Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Register 24 hours in advance: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdO6vrzIiHNG2AifUqgB8YXBGT0XQGvQi
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage - Thursday, Macrh 7, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Register 24 hours in advance: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcuiqrjsoHNbBH3g7CugogVv7zaVR4Pqo
Navigating Medicare.gov - Thursday, March 7, 2024, 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Register 24 hours in advance: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEufuyorjgqG9yxHP6XljO0mKTZP1CHG6AU
Long Term Care Planning - Thursday, March 28, 2024, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Register 24 hours in advance: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucuurrjMvHNTr5NnpEByIJ1vs6i0Wzb05
Medicare Advantage Plan Open Enrollment
January 1 - March 31, 2024
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, call Florida SHINE at 1-800-963-5337, visit www.floridashine.org, or the National SHIP site at www.shiphelp.org.
Free In-Person Event (Ocala, Florida)
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Scams, Schemes & Fraud: What To Do!
Medicare fraud is a $60 billion industry impacting our health coverage. Scams perpetrated by family and caregivers hit so close to our heart; consumer and industry scams hit our pocket book, and the list goes on. Please join our team of professionals as we look to combat fraud. Learn who to report, and learn why it is so important to report! Join Master the Possibilities, Ocala on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Will be held at Live Oak Hall, located in Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th Street, Ocala, Florida 34481. To RSVP, call 352-861-9751 or click here: https://catalog.masterthepossibilities.org/mtp/Course/Course.aspx?c=5736.
Matter of Balance Training, Live via ZOOM
FREE Coach Training Workshop
Two days of classes. You must atend both sessions for certification
Wednesday April 3, 2024, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 pm)
Friday April 5, 2024, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 pm)
A Matter of Balance is a 2 hour 8 session intervention program designed to help
participants increase their levels of fall efficacy, falls managment, falls control, exercise and social limitations with regards to concerns about falling. Participants Learn to: view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks at home, exercise to increase strength and balance. Coaches help participants become more confident about managing falls, help to identify ways to reduce falls, and lead exercises developed to increase strength and balance.
What you need to become a coach: good communication and interpersonal skills; enthusiasm, dependability, and the willingness to lead small groups of older adults, and the ability to lead low to moderate exercises. For more information contact: Wendy Bonilla by email at bonillaw@agingresource. See details here: https://files.constantcontact.com/2364a0a3701/db878be8-19ef-4b8b-9420-adeb6df5136b.pdf?rdr=true.
Find a Class or Workshop near you!
To find a class or workshop near you, visit https://agingresources.org/events.
Article
Aging Matters: Social Activities
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 the important of social activities. To read Aging Matters: Social activities boost senior health, happiness, visit https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/local-living/aging-matters-social-activities-boost-senior-health-happiness.
March: National Nutrition Month
Join us this March as we celebrate National Nutrition Month, highlighting the significance of nourishing our bodies with wholesome foods. In today's world, proper nutrition is more important than ever, especially in boosting our immune systems during COVID-19 and flu season. Let's prioritize our health and well-being by making informed food choices and embracing the power of vaccines this month and beyond. For ways to eat healthy on a budget, visit https://www.myplate.gov.
Elder Options within the Community
Happy Anniversary Gainesville Caregiver Support Group! Our Gainesville Caregiver Support Group recently celebrated it’s first Anniversary! Although a dementia caregiver’s journey is definitely longer than a year, they need all the support that they can get. We currently have 12 members at meet at Elder Options on the second and fourth, but we would love to grow! Sign up here: https://agingresources.org/event/caregiver-support-group-gainesville.
The Caregiver Training and Support Team (CTS) also sponsors many support groups within our area. We have monthly groups, one in Clermont, one for Ocala and a virtual group. Our Homosassa support group meets weekly. If you have questions, email savvy@agingresources.org. We can train you to be a volunteer leader or point you in the direction of a group near you!
Keep Medicare 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 secondary language
To write an email to Congress urging them to support MIPPA, Click on this link from the National Council on Aging: https://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 at andrewsl@agingresouces.org or (352) 692-5228.
Elder Options Newsletter
Sign up for the Elder Options Newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/hBTH05S/elderoptions?source_id=8d88cc66-e8b1-47fc-b7cf-2fefa095f8b0&source_type=em&c=A56n8ZoMFveKVYkfOdNPzwGnDyKto66s6FmBCZgA2ZTIet-1tV0BwA==.
Contact Elder Options
Phone: 1-800-262-2243
Location: 100 SW 75th Street, Suite 301, Gainesville, Florida 32607