This week’s Spooky Scam tip: This Friday, October 15th, is the beginning of the Medicare enrollment period. Guard your identity from scams asking you to verify your Medicare ID number. Learn more by visiting the Medicare Fight Fraud page and the NCEA Medicare Alert factsheet.
To report a suspected Medicare scam call 1-800-MEDICARE. The theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Browse our website for ideas and resources for employers, community organizations, state and local governments, advocacy groups and schools to participate in celebrating NDEAM through events and activities centered around the theme of “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” This article was taken from the National Department of Labor website. To learn more click here. Discovering Alzheimer's DiseaseLearn about the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, as well as tips for coping with the diagnosis.
Click here to see a short video of Caregivers discuss the signs and symptoms that led to their loved one's Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. This video is from the Caregiver Action Network. It is so important for people dealing with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis to know they are not alone. There are resources and support available to them. For more information contact your local ADRC. Call: 877-794-2372 September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Wisconsin has the highest death rate due to falls for older adults of any state in the country. Every 11 seconds an older adult in the U.S. is admitted to an Emergency Department for a fall. One in four older adults has a fall each year costing over $1 billion annually in Wisconsin.
The good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging. They can be prevented. The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eagle Country’s Richland Center office and Symons Recreation encourage older adults to prevent falls with these six steps: 1.Talk to a physical therapist to learn about balance and strength exercises that are proven to reduce falls. 2.Ask your health care provider for a falls risk assessment and share your history of recent falls. 3.Review the medications you are taking with your pharmacist and doctors regularly to explore whether side effects are increasing your risk of falling. 4.Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses; people with untreated vision or hearing losses are more likely to fall. 5.Keep your home safe by removing tripping hazards, increasing lighting, making stairs safe and installing secure grab bars in key areas. 6.Talk to your family members and enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Take steps to avoid a painful and costly fall. For more information in Richland County regarding fall prevention and classes that can prevent falls call The ADRC at 608-647-4616 or Symons Recreation at 608-647-8522 for help. All other counties contact your local ADRC by calling: 877-794-2372 to find out what options are available. Unfortunately the ADRC of Eagle Country had to make the hard decision to postpone the event Alive and Kickin due to an increase of COVID cases in our county and region. The event will be offered next Spring instead.
The “Alive and Kickin” group combined with the Remember Project event focuses on providing fun entertainment through music combined with a short one act play aimed to provide education regarding memory loss. This event promised to be a fun and educational event meant for all age groups. The ADRC is excited to offer the program in 2022! There was a great deal of interest in our community and many people had made reservations for the event. For individuals who had signed up for the event, we will mail or call you with information regarding when the it will be offered in 2022. Once there is a new date set the ADRC will make sure to advertise it far and wide so people are aware. COVID has continued to affect our community and will continue to do so. Please remember to wear a mask when in public and if you have not been vaccinated, please do so. Contact your local ADRC to find out how: 877-794-2372 What is the Senior Farmers’ Market
Nutrition Program (SFMNP)? The SFMNP offers eligible low-income seniors the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from certified farmers. The goals of the SFMNP are:
Native American age 55 years or older), and meets the income requirements – individual $1986/month; couple $2686/month. Applicants may be required to provide proof of age and household income. How Does the Program Work? Enrolled seniors will receive vouchers worth $25 per household. These vouchers may be used to purchase locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs at approved farmers’ markets or roadside stands. These vouchers are good until October 31, 2021. How Do I Get These Vouchers? Due to COVID, vouchers can be distributed via phone and mail or face-to-face following COVID safety protocol and by appointment only. There is a limited number of vouchers for each County. Vouchers will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. You can pre-register for vouchers by calling Tanya at (608) 649-5937. How Do I Get Vouchers If I Can’t Come to pick them up? If you are homebound, or unable to get to a distribution site due to a disability, you may assign an Authorized Representative (or Proxy) on your behalf. Contact Richland County Health & Human Services at 608-647- 8821 and ask to speak with Tanya. How Do I Get More Information? Contact Tanya at Richland County Health & Human Services at 608-649-5937 or by email tanya.webster@co.richland.wi.us with Senior Farmer’s Market in the subject line. |