Let’s see if you were paying attention last week. Do you remember that the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP for the Medicare junkies) runs a month earlier this year – from October 15th until December 7th? Do you remember this is your chance to change prescription or Medicare Advantage plans? And do you remember where you put your car keys?
I can’t help you find your car keys, but I can pass along the following suggestions provided by SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance) for those folks who – after reviewing what their current insurance plan is going to provide next year – decide to look at new plans. 1). Update your list of prescription drugs so you can determine if your current prescription drug plan is still the best for you. Each year insurance companies reevaluate what drugs they will cover and at what level. 2). Use the plan finder on the website Medicare.gov. It uses your prescription list to compare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage health plans in your area. If you need help, Jean Hockman from the Area Agency on Aging and her volunteers, all trained by SHIBA, can assist you on Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:00 at the Center starting October 19th. 3). Contact your doctor, hospital, and pharmacy to make sure they will accept any new health and drug plans you are considering. 4). If you have limited income and assets, check to see if you qualify for extra help with prescription drug costs.
And it is confirmed. Donna Delikat from the state office of SHIBA will explain the “A,B,C and D’s of Medicare” this Wednesday, October 12th, starting at 1:30 in the Center’s dining room. (We want to make sure there is enough room this year.) If you want professional, unbiased information about Medicare, this is the meeting you should attend.
It was quite a night. And thanks to the approximately three hundred guests who attended the Baby Back Rib Dinner, it was a real success. Denise Patton, director of Meals-on-Wheels, and her kitchen crew cooked up some mighty-fine, finger-licking ribs, board members from both organizations kept everything moving smoothly and Hardshell Harmony provided just the right mix of live music. It almost looked like we knew what we were doing. Mark your calendar for October 5th, 2012, when we’ll be back again serving up more lip-smacking baby back ribs.
Just over the mountain, headed our way, is the Center’s Third Saturday Breakfast on October 15th sponsored by The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center. This month’s menu includes Texas French Toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit, and your choice of beverages. We start serving at 8:00 – or whenever Tom Bailey arrives – and keep serving till 9:30 for the late risers. The cost? $5.00 for the general public and $4.00 for our loyal members. And for our young friends under thirteen on their way to soccer practice, breakfast is an even $3.00.
The speaker for next Tuesday’s 11:00 lecture on the 18th will be Julie Reynolds who will explain the important work provided by the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living. EOCIL is a nonprofit community-based resource and advocacy center that promotes independent living and equal access for all persons with disabilities.
Tonight, Martin and Friends will be playing country western for everyone’s enjoyment. And next Tuesday on the 18th, Truman will be singing his Country Gold. The doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and it is all over too quickly at 9:00. And donations are always appreciated.
The children’s educational television show that aired form 1951 – 1965 was “Watch Mr. Wizard” with Don Herbert as Mr. Wizard. (And last week’s winner was Joann Scott. And ask her about her exploding homemade root beer!) For this week’s “Remember When” question, it’s back to literature and not your comic book type, but award winning literature – stuff I never read. What 1959 Pulitzer Prize winning novel (and best seller for the year) explored the fictional confirmation by the United States Senate of Secretary of State nominee Robert Leffingwell – a former member of the Communist Party? Email your answers to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or write it on the back of a photograph of former Wyoming Senator Lester Hunter.
Well it’s been another week looking for my git up and go that got up and went. Until we meet again, just because you know your friends are lost, doesn’t mean you know where you’re going.
“It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.” Mark Twain
