Elder Options events, classes and more for August 2023
Wednesday, August 2, 10:00 am via Zoom
Learn more about Elder Options services and resources such as:
Elder Helpline
SHINE Medicare Counseling
Wellness Programs
Caregiver Classes
Call 1-800-262-2243 to register and learn more.
Elder Abuse Neglect and Exploitation Training
Tuesday (second Tuesday of the month), August 8, 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 every month, on the second Tuesday, from 10:00-11:15 am. Certificates are provided. REGISTER for one of our monthly trainings using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcuqorT8oGtIT7zQFNmPyxqbOnzM9GfTC#/registration. We look forward to seeing you!
Elder Law Panel - August 15, 2:00-4:00 pm
Join Elder Options for a FREE in person Elder Law Panel seminar at:
Fairway Christian Church
8400 E. Country Road 466
The Villages, Florida 32162
Seminar topics will include Advance Directives, Estate Planning, Medicaid Eligibility, and more. We will feature attorneys Christina Campbell from McLin Burnsed, Eric Millhorn from the Millhorn Elder Law Planning Group, Lizzie Johnson from Community Legal Services, and Robin Patrowicz from Robin Patrowicz Law, PLLC.
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources.org/event/elder-law-panel/.
VIRTUAL “MEDICARE” CLASSES - LIVE VIA ZOOM - SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - Register 24 hours in Advance of the class:
Medicare Part C
Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 10:00-11:30 am
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocuGtqjItG9G1XbiBNJZ_Kbrud5914p-j.
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Wednesday, August 9, 2023,12:00-1:00 pm
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdu2gqTgqGdFQOhY2OQRuvq1zb8RRqrVE.
Medicare Basics
Monday, August 14, 2023,10:00-11:30 am
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvdeupqDgpGNI6BEPUzgj5QxXHI5EvD32u.
Navigating Medicare.gov
Monday, August 21, 2023, 10:00-11:30 am
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0uceyrqzojG9KtnYWbZ6RGwvwVfow1u5PY.
Long Term Care Planning
Thursday Aug 24, 2023 10:00-11:30 am
REGISTER HERE: https://agingresources-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckd--hqjMiEtKdqxcu_8wd9ObpKakr5-JU.
SHINE classes are hosted by the PSA3 SHINE Team. If you have questions, please email shine@agingresources.org or call (352) 692-5209. For additional assistance, call your local Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243 or visit www.agingresources.org. Visit www.floridashine.org if you would like to become a SHINE volunteer.
Find a Class or Workshop near you!
To find a class or workshop in your area, visit: https://agingresources.org/events/.
Are you ready for your next doctor's appointment?
Older adults' who get COVID can be at a greater risk for severe illness. However, people of any age with underlying medical conditions are also at an increased risk.
Know your risk: Older adults who get COVID are at greater risk for:
• Severe illness
• Hospitalization
• Death
But people of any age with these underlying medical conditions are also at increased risk for:
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis
• Chronic lung diseases, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma
(moderate-to-severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension
• Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension
• HIV infection
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or the use of
corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications
• Mental health disorders, including mood disorders (such as depression) and schizophrenia and spectrum disorders
• Neurologic conditions, including dementia
• Overweight and obesity
• Pregnancy and recent pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Smoking, current or former
• Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
• Substance use disorders
• Tuberculosis
General questions to ask your doctor. Take this list of questions with you on your next visit to your doctor’s office to create an informed care plan for your specific health condition:
• Does my condition put me at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID? Why or why not?
• Are the COVID vaccines safe for people with my health condition?
• Should I stop taking any of my medications before getting a dose of a COVID vaccine?
• Does your office offer COVID vaccines? If not, do you have a suggestion about where I can get a COVID vaccine?
• What symptoms of COVID should I watch for?
• What should I do if I have symptoms of COVID?
• Does your office provide COVID testing? If not, do you have a suggestion about where I can get a COVID test?
• If I get sick from COVID, will it affect my underlying condition?
• Is there treatment to help keep me from getting very sick from COVID?
• Should I continue taking my medications if I get COVID?
• If I get tested and I’m negative for COVID, but I still don’t feel well, what should I do?
• Is telehealth available so I can get care virtually or be seen by a doctor over the Internet?
• How many doses of a COVID vaccine do I need and how often?
Questions to ask your doctor if you have upcoming medical exams, tests, or surgeries
• Will having this procedure put me at a higher risk of getting COVID? Why or why not?
• Is it important for me to have this procedure now, or is it safe to wait?
• Do I need to get a COVID test before I can get my procedure?
• Should I get a COVID vaccine dose before or after my procedure is done?
• Do you allow family or caregivers to accompany me? Can people visit me?
• Is there a chance the hospital or facility will cancel my procedure or surgery? What are my options if it’s canceled? Can I have the procedure or surgery somewhere else?
For more information visit cdc.gov/coronavirus for more information about risk factors for getting very sick from COVID and how to protect yourself.
Protect Yourself from Phone Scams: Who's Calling Me? - Aging Resources
In today's world, scammers are becoming increasingly clever in their attempts to deceive people, and phone scams are on the rise.
It's crucial to stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim to their tricks. We used to say, "Don't answer the phone if you don't recognize the number." Well, scammers have found a way around that too. It’s called “spoofing,” and it allows them to manipulate Caller ID to make it look like they’re calling from a familiar name, business, or number you know. They might pretend to be your bank, doctor’s office, or even a family member in dire need of help. To make matters worse, they often have some personal information about you, like your address or your family members’ names, to make their stories sound convincing.
Be skeptical. Even if the number seems familiar, if they ask for money, your social security number, Medicare information, PIN code, or even your email address, don’t give in. Hang up immediately to protect yourself.
Legitimate institutions and businesses, like your bank or doctor’s office, already have all the sensitive information they need. They will never call you to ask for it over the phone, no matter how urgent the situation may seem. If you’re unsure about a call’s authenticity, hang up and call them back—but only use a trusted and verified phone number that you have used before.
Family emergencies are not exempt from scammers’ tactics either. They might pretend to be a relative in distress, armed with personal details to sound authentic. In such cases, it’s wise to hang up and call them back on a number you know is genuinely theirs or reach out to another close family member to verify the situation. Some families even have secret passwords for such situations, something unique that only family members would know, like the name of your favorite dessert. It can be a simple and fun way to ensure that you’re talking to the real family member and not a scammer.
Here’s some good news—every one of us can play a part in preventing phone scams! You can report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which investigates such fraudulent activities. If you lost money or have information about the scammers, report it at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. Even if you didn’t lose money but received a suspicious call, you can still report it at https://www.donotcall.gov/. By reporting these incidents, you help the FTC identify illegal callers and patterns, which assists phone carriers and other partners in developing solutions to block or label scam calls. Your reports also aid law enforcement in tracking down these scammers and bringing them to justice.
Stay informed, stay cautious, and take action when needed. By staying alert and proactive, you can safeguard yourself and your community from phone scams and keep your personal information secure.
And for more information and helpful tips, be sure to check out the Elder Options event page for training and community sessions like Long-Term Care Planning and Elder Law Panel at https://agingresources.org/events/.
Stay safe and be vigilant.
Hope Heroes volunteers needed for hurricane season!
Sign up today to be in the system so you can help seniors in need before and after a storm. Volunteers may help with everything from loading sandbags to working in shelters. Sign up at HelpCreateHope.com.
Your Nose Knows: Smell Loss and Brain Health
Parkinson's disease
Many may be surprised to learn that our sense of smell is linked to brain health. Although one in two people over age 60 may be living with smell loss, many do not know it until they are tested. Monitoring your sense of smell could give you important information on your brain health as you age. Unlike temporary smell loss associated with COVID-19, ongoing smell loss can be a signal of cell damage associated with brain disease. In fact, smell loss may be one of the most important signals of risk for Parkinson’s disease. (Not everyone with smell loss develops Parkinson’s.)
A study from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) is exploring this link. A simple scratch-and-sniff test could help scientists learn more about risk and develop new treatments. MJFF is asking everyone age 60 and older without Parkinson’s disease to take a free smell test. Visit mysmelltest.org/partners to request a test. You’ll receive your test in the mail and it’ll take about 15 minutes to complete. Then you’ll be asked to enter your answers online. Your results may mean you’re eligible to join a brain health study.
Please help spread the word. Tell everyone you know over age 60 — family, friends, neighbors, community members — to monitor their brain health and contribute to this important research at mysmelltest.org/partners.
Parkinson's Support Groups and Resources can be found at UF's Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases (see below). For information on groups and classes, email Amanda Fessenden at Amenda.Fessenden@neurology.ufl.edu.
PD Patients/Caregivers Support Group
Zoom online meeting on the third Friday (August 18, 2023) of every month
PD Educational Day for New PD Patients/Caregivers
Small group live class held once every 3 months
First Friday (August 4, 2023) Caregivers Only Support Group
Zoom online meeting on the first Friday of every month
Annual Parkinson’s Disease educational symposium
Half-day event typically held on a Saturday in Spring
Medicaid Redetermination
To receive important notices about your health coverage:
(1) Log in to your MyACCESS Account
(2) Click the "Report My Changes" button.
(3) Chck the box fo Address, Email, or Phone Number changes
(4) Enter your information and follow prompts to finish and submit.
For additional information, visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/medicaid or call 850-300-4323 (Florida Relay 711 or TTY: 1-800-955-8771).
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Contact Elder Options
100 SW 75th Street
Suite 301
Gainesville, Florida 32607
Phone 1-800-262-2243