Medicare Open Enrollment Period Has Begun

 The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15th through December 7, 2012. If you review your health care plan and prescription drug coverage, you can check to see if another plan could lower your costs. To find out if another plan would be better for you, you will need to gather some information. You will need a list of your medications and a list of your health care providers. If you would like one-on-one help with Medicare enrollment questions, you can get help from a SHINE volunteer.

 The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program provides free counseling to Seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care planning, and prescription assistance. The program is administered at the county level through the local "Area Agency on Aging" (other states also have this program - either in their Department of Aging or in their Department of Insurance).

This program trains volunteers to help older adults to get the information that they need to make informed decisions on health insurance issues. They provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families.

To receive Medicare counseling in Pasco County, you can call 1-800-963-5337.  If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please call the elder hotline at 1-800-963-5337.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas also provides many other services for seniors and caregivers. You can click on the picture below to access their website:

Long Term Care Information

The National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information defines long term care as "a range of services and supports you may need to meet your health or personal needs over a long period of time. Most long-term care is not medical care, but rather assistance with the basic personal tasks of everyday life ...." These tasks may include help with: bathing, dressing, eating, housework, or shopping. Nearly 70% of people age 65 and above need long term care. 
 
Medicare does not pay for long term care. As a result, it is important to plan ahead, because paying for long term care can be very expensive.The National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care provides a lot of information to help you plan for long term care. It also has links to organizations that can provide assistance to caregivers. Click here for more information.

The "United States of Aging" Survey

The National Council on Aging, UnitedHealthcare, and USA Today funded a survey which asked older adults questions about their outlook and their preparation for aging. This "United States of Aging" survey of 2,250 adults aged 60+ was conducted in May through June of 2012. Here are some of the key findings of the survey:

•  64% of adults aged 60+ report that it is very or somewhat easy to pay their monthly living expenses now
• 23% of seniors are either not confident in, or do not have, a financial plan for their retirement years.
• 20% are still employed either full or part time.
• 28% of Seniors say they serve as a caregiver for someone else.
• 50% of Seniors have someone who is a caregiver for them.
•  90% of Seniors intend to continue living in their current homes over the next five to 10 years.

You can access the full report here. 

The first Florida Senior Games championships were held in 1992.  These games are for people age 50 and above.  Currently, the Florida Sports Foundation sanctions local games, which serve as qualifiers for the state championships.  The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department will be hosting the Tampa Bay local qualifier games this year from October 1st-12th.  The locations for the events  can be found here (on page 3).  The sports offered include: 

• 3-on-3 Basketball
• Basketball Shooting
• Billiards
• Bowling
• Golf
• Horseshoes
• Pickleball
• Powerlifting
• Race Walk
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Track and Field

The State Championships will be held Dec. 1st -9th in various locations in Polk County. These state championships are the qualifiers for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio from July 21st - August 1st, 2013. For more information on the National Senior Games Association, please click here.

The Sep/Oct Issue of the Elder Update is Available

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about:

• the 2012 Florida Senior Games
• After an injury: What seniors need to know to regain their health and happiness
• lower your Medicare bills
• disabled parking permit requirements change
• 2012 Department of Elder Affairs Needs Assessment Report
• the importance of volunteering

You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.

Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like to learn more about Medicare, learn how to use your tablet, exercise with tai chi, or enjoy a great film? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Fridays, Sep 14th, Sep 21st, and Sep 28th
11:00am 
Beginning Tai Chi at Hudson Library
The Taoist Tai Chi Society returns to teach the basics of Tai Chi, a gentle and therapeutic practice. Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise program. 
Hudson Library.
8012 Library Road
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040

Fridays, Sep 14th, Sep 21st, and Sep 28th
3:30pm- 4:30pm
Tablet Help for Seniors at New River Library
Do you need help learning to navigate your new Android tablet or Ipad? We can help. This program is for ages 50+.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375


Wednesday, Sep 19th at 2:00pm

Medicare and You at New River Library
SHINE will present a program on the Medicare and You handbook, and they will also answer general Medicare questions.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thursday, Sep 27th at 1:00pm

Medicare and You at Land O'Lakes Library
SHINE will present a program on the Medicare and You handbook, and they will also answer general Medicare questions.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214


Friday, Sep 28th at 2:00pm
Senior Movie Feature at Hugh Embry Library

Seniors, enjoy the latest releases of great films, along with light refreshments, thanks to our generous Friends of Hugh Embry Library!

Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Also, many branches offer book clubs, language classes, and gardening programs. You can contact your local branch to find out about these programs.

National Grandparent's Day 2012

National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day, which is September 9th this year. Marion H. McQuade first championed the idea for this celebration and her descendants created a nonprofit organization, the National Grandparents Day Council. The organization website states:

"Our goals are to honor grandparents and to strengthen
the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
Additionally, we strive to draw compassionate attention
to the eldest of society's elderly--those in nursing homes."

President Jimmy Carter approved the first National Grandparent's Day in 1978. Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau provides statistics about grandparents and their role in society. Here are some highlights of the 2012 statistics (these statistics are from the 2010 American Community Survey):

• 7 million grandparents had grandchildren under the age of 18 living with them.
•  10% of children in the U.S. live with a grandparent.
•  2.7 million grandparents are responsible for the basic needs of at least one grandchild.

You can read the whole article here.