Page 14 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - February 2017 - 24-02

Page 14
Senior Times - February 2017
Aging and Disability Resource Line: 1-800-626-6719 General Agency Telephone: (269) 966-2450
200 West Michigan Avenue Suite 102 Battle Creek, MI 49017
www.region3b.org/
Kinship Korner
Family Enrichment Center
415 S. 28th Street Battle Creek, MI 49015
Beckie Brinks, Kinship Coordinator Email: bbrinks@fecfamilies.com
Ph: (269) 660-0448
Fx: (269) 963-0160 www.Fecfamily.com
Calhoun County Kinship Care Services advocates for and pro- vides supportive services to fami- lies raising related children. If you are raising a related child (ages 0-18 years), you may be eligible for Kinship Care Services through the Family Enrichment Center. Kinship Care Services offers sup- port groups, inter-generational family activities, helpful classes and specialized training sessions.
Do Yourself a Favor by Attending One of Our Support Groups!
• Join us monthly on the first
Tuesday of each month
from 12:30-2:30pm for the Battle Creek Kinship Support Group. We meet in the All Purpose room at the Westlake Presbyterian Church. Support groups nurture relationships, decrease isolation and provide a safe place to vent. Support groups build on collective ener- gy, creativity, and the talents
of all group members. The next meeting is on February 7, 2017. Consider visiting a support group. You won’t regret it!
• On Monday February 20, Jane Wolf will discuss “Parenting the High Needs Child” at the Family Enrichment Center from 6:30-8:30pm.
• Our “Saturday Parenting Series” training is scheduled for February 18, 2017.
Have A Prosperous New Year!
• We are interested in hearing your opinion on how we can better serve the Kinship com- munity. Please give Beckie a call or e-mail her at bbrinks@ fecfamily.com. Your input will be appreciated!
We have the means to help pro- vide necessities and enrichment activities for thechildren in your care. We also have the experi- ence and knowledge to advocate for you and give advice on how to navigate through issues as they develop. Spread the word!
My Medicare Matters - Important Dates
By Karen Manney, Regional Coordinator, MMAP
Part A and Part B General Enrollment Period: January 1-March 31.
If you didn’t sign up for Part A and/or Part B (for which you must pay premiums) when you were first eligible, and you aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period. Your Medicare A/B coverage will start July 1. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment in Part A and/or a higher premium for late enroll- ment in Part B.
The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period: January 1- February 14.
During this period, if you’re
in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare with a Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Other limitations apply.
MiHealth Link Passive Enrollments: Continues Monthly.
The State will continue enroll- ing Medicare/Medicaid Dual Eligible Beneficiaries into the integrated care MiHealth Link programs each month. Meridian Complete or Aetna Better Health plan are the two plans in our area. Persons who have both Medicare and Medicaid (duals) who receive letters saying that they have been enrolled into a MiHealth Link program should contact MMAP, so we can help verify that the program will cover all medica- tions you take, and that your doc- tors participate with the plan into which you’ve been assigned. You have the option of keeping the assigned plan, picking a different plan, or dis-enrolling and opting out of a MiHealthLink combo plan, and returning to traditional Medicaid and Medicare with Part D drug coverage. Persons leav- ing MiHealthLink plans MUST re-enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription plan, or pay cash for their prescriptions!
MMAP can help with General Enrollment, with Advantage Plan Disenrollment, and with MiHealthLink options. Contact your local MMAP office at 1-800-803-7174 for an appointment.
Popular Workshops Offered
By: Cathleen Knoll, Community Outreach Specialist
CareWell Services Southwest is offering evidence based programs in 2017: the Diabetes Personal Action Towards Health and “A Matter of Balance.”
Evidence based programs have proven that small changes can lead to better outcomes for participants. In order to maintain independent living, older adults should prevent falls and prevent or limit the effects of diabetes. We encourage caregivers and family members to participate in the workshops, too.
The Diabetes Personal Action Toward Health (DPATH) program is a six week Self-Management program, offering participants a chance to meet in small group settings for two and a half hours each week. Participants learn and practice simple methods for taking control of their health, nutrition, simple exercises, communicating with health care providers, and managing their medications, plus ways to handle negative emotions that can arise from having a chronic condition.
Diabetes PATH workshops may be for you if you:
• Are you 55 or older with long- term health conditions.
• Feel limited in your day-to-day activities.
• Feel tired, alone or fearful.
• Are looking for better ways to manage your symptoms.
Diabetes affects many older adults in Michigan. It is estimated that one third of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed. If not managed, the disease leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, and amputations.
“A Matter of Balance”
(MOB) is an evidence based fall prevention program to help reduce the risk of falls. The MOB class uses practical strategies to manage falls. Participants meet weekly
for eight weeks, and learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce falls at home and easy chair-based stretches and exercise movements to gain strength and balance. People concerned about falls, have fallen in the past, or who want to improve balance and flexibility can benefit from this class.
The Center for Disease
Control and Prevention reports that approximately 40 percent of seniors fall at least once each year. The majority of these falls are at home and out of sight of others. Fall related injuries are a leading cause of nursing home admissions.
No matter how old you are, you can learn ways to help take control of your risk factors for both falls and diabetic complications!
Many of the leaders who present evidence based programs are people who have also had chronic conditions and have benefitted from these workshops in their own quest for better health. Participants at Marshall’s Trinity Episcopal Church Diabetes PATH class last summer had this to say, “Excellent leaders and material. I learned a lot for myself and my son. Thank you!” “Great class-Time well spent. Presenters very well informed.” “Well worth my time.” “I learned a lot. I
have more insight about things I thought I knew.”
Karen Manney, Program Coordinator, invites groups to host these fun interactive workshops. “Usually, we take names and information of interested persons on a class list, and then contact them once we have the minimum of 10 persons to let them know where and when the class will take place. Our goal is at least
two classes of each type per year, but we are happy to do more.
We want to make workshops accessible for people who need them. If your congregation, business or service group has older adults at risk for falls or persons with diabetes, you should host a class! We’ll help you with the sign-up sheets, make sure the meeting room is accessible and class-friendly, and we’ll provide the class leaders.”
If you would like more information about any of these exciting opportunities, please contact CareWell Services Southwest at (269) 966-2450 or 1-800-626-6719.
Call us. We’re Here to Help!
PROMOTING HEALTH
INDEPENDENCE CHOICE