The Chatterbox November 2014 A Publication of the Kalkaska County Commission on Aging th Home of 4 Street Center This publication is made available through millage and donations. Dear Friends, November is the month we celebrate all that we are so blessed to have. Thank you to all our veterans who have given so much for us to have the freedom to live our lives as we choose. Please join us on Veterans Day as we honor these men and women. One of our seniors recently had an experience that did not work out as the senior had thought it would. So this is a friendly reminder to all of us. Remember friends are friends and business is business. Do not pay anyone for anything until they deliver. Make sure that you have the agreement in writing and signed by both of you as to what is expected and when. People do not always remember agreements the same way. This will save hard feelings and perhaps getting involved in the legal system. Remember this is open enrollment for the Medicare Part D program. Have you had your drug planned checked? Is it still the best plan for you? There is a limited window when changes can be made and this is the time. Call the COA for an appointment with our trained volunteers. I want to thank all of you who have been so kind and supportive to my family and I during the recent loss of my sister. Gay VETERANS BE OUR GUEST!!!! In honor of all you have given, please be our guest for lunch and a Veteran’s Day Program on November 11th at 11am. “ALL” veterans, regardless of age are welcome! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ BOARDMAN SENIOR CENTER Have lunch with friends and do some Christmas shopping!!!!!! When: Saturday, November 15th Where: Boardman Senior Center Time: 10 am – 5 pm Bake Sale – Crafts – Christmas Basket Auction I am truly overwhelmed with the generosity and support shown at the recent fundraiser for me and my family. There are really no words to describe the gratitude I feel. I am truly thankful and blessed. God Bless you all! Rosemarie Brooks 50/50 Drawing Chili – Chicken Noodle Soup - Pie ***************************************** Like our page on Facebook at Kalkaska County Commission on Aging! The COA is looking for volunteer drivers for Medical and other transportation for seniors. We drive locally only, Kalkaska, Mancelona, Traverse City, Grayling, Gaylord, etc. You will be reimbursed for mileage at the current Federal rate. For more information, call the COA, 2585030 and ask for Cindy. Medicare News October 2014 This is part 2 of a 2 part series concerning the Medicare Open Enrollment process that runs from October 15th through December 7th. In this article, I will discuss the information that has recently been released by Medicare about the Part D drug insurance plans for 2015. Following are some of the significant changes: There are a total of 31 drug plans available to Michigan Medicare beneficiaries, three less than in 2014. One of the plans, the Smart D Rx Saver(called SmartD Rx Plus in 2014), is currently sanctioned by Medicare, making it unavailable for new subscribers until further notice. Current members are permitted to remain in the plan for 2015. Part D plans that have an annual drug deductible can increase it by $10 up to a maximum of $320. The donut hole will go up by $110 to $2960. When the full cost of medications reach this amount during the year, subscribers will enter the donut hole which results in a higher cost for their drugs. Those who enter the donut hole in 2015 will pay 45% of the total cost of brand name drugs and 65% of the cost of the generic equivalent. Those in the donut hole will find that their out of pocket cost for brand and generic drugs will be down slightly for 2014. This trend will continue until the year 2020, when the out of pocket cost for brand and generic drugs will stabilize at a 25% copay. Four plans available in 2014 will not be offered in 2015. They are the Symphonix Rite Aid, First Health Premier Plus, Medicare Rx Rewards and Health Markets Value plans. Also, four drug insurance companies are reassigning their members from one of their plan offerings to another plan within the same company. These companies are AARP, Cigna, First Health (Coventry) and SilverScript. Part D companies are required to notify their subscribers of all of these changes in the Annual Notice of Change mailing. Beneficiaries should already have received this information. The list of plan offerings is long, but there is a very helpful process available that can be used to compare an existing drug plan with all of the other alternatives. The tool is called the Medicare Plan Finder. To do your own comparison, or get some help with it, simply select one of the following options: If you are comfortable doing your own research, visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov. Just click on the green box entitled “Find health & drug plans”, and enter the information requested. You will be given detailed comparisons for each plan, sorted by lowest cost. Plan enrollment can also be done at the same website. You can call 800-Medicare (800-633-4227) and a trained customer service representative can assist you by furnishing you with plan options. Have your current medication list available when you make the call. Also you can call the Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) at 800-803-7174. Representatives will mail you out a prescription drug worksheet to complete and return. A certified Counselor will then review drug plan options, furnish recommendation for 2015 and assist you with the enrollment. It is essential that beneficiaries have their Part D plans reviewed during the Medicare open enrollment periods. As I’ve pointed out, the plan features and list of plans available constantly change. Also, a beneficiary’s prescriptions can change each year. These variables often have a dramatic effect on the out of pocket cost for medications. Being in the plan that covers their medications in a cost effective manner can lower their cost. Once the open enrollment period closed on December 7th, subscribers are locked into their current plan for all of 2015, unless they are eligible for low income assistance. By Jim Verville, Region 10 Coordinator MMAP Area Agency on Aging, Traverse City, MI MMAP personnel are trained and certified to provide help in all areas of Medicare health care insurance, Medicaid benefits, fraud and abuse, billing issues, and a number of other related topics. Call your local COA office at 231258-5030 for an appointment. “Commodities” October Euchre Tournament Winners October 7th 1st – Sharon Daly & Andy Turner - Tie 2nd – Norma Lance 3rd October 21st 1st – Lyle Thornburg 2nd – Jodie Lowrey 3rd – Louise Gravelle November tournaments will be held on 11/4 & 11/18. All are welcome! Kalkaska Senior Center Activities Open - 8:00- 4:30 – Monday thru Friday Mondays – 9:30 – Coffee & Chat w/Cheri 10:30 am – Aerobic Weightlifting 1:00 pm – Music w/Old Timers 6:00 pm – Woodcarving Tuesdays : 10am-12pm- Care & Share Craft Group 11:30am – Card Bingo Line Dancing is discontinued until further notice!! Wednesdays – 4:30 pm – Jackpot Bingo Fridays – 10:30am – Aerobic Weightlifting 1:15pm – Pantry Bingo Service Corner Northwest Community Action Agency Commodities (surplus food) has distribution the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Kalkaska Senior Center from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. You must call and request us to hold them for you, if you cannot be here. Your commodities will then be available for pick up from us between 12 pm and 4pm on Thursday. If you are not able to pick them up on Thursday, please call the COA office (258-5030) to make special arrangements for pickup. Thank-You! ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!! For all those that pick up commodities at the Fairgrounds, the location for pickup has been changed to the United Methodist Church on Beebe Road. Hours are 9am-10am on 11/26. Other Meal Site Activities Manistee Lake (CETA) Mon. - 7:00 pm- Euchre $5.00 Wed. – 6:30 pm – Pinochle-$3.25 Thurs. – 10:00 am - Bunco - $5.00 7:00pm – Euchre - $5.00 Friday – 1pm – Pasty Sale 1pm – Line Dancing Bear Lake – Open 9:30 – 2:00 Tuesday/Thursday - Cards & Games Lunch – 12:00 S. Boardman – MMAP It is time for Open Enrollment for Medicare, if you need or want to change your coverage, now is the time to get a checkup. Call 2585030 for an appointment. In Home Services are another service provided by the Kalkaska COA. If you need a housekeeper, respite or personal care for you or someone you love, call the COA at 2585030 for more information on these and other programs. Rapid City – Open 10 – 2 - Tuesday 10 – 4 Thursday Cards & Games Lunch – 12:30 Open 9 – 1- Wednesday 10 am – Wii Bowling 11:30 am – Wheel of Fortune Lunch – 12:00 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of Month @1:00 - Pedro Thursday @ 5:45 pm Potluck & Euchre Newsletter Subscription Form _____Yes I want to continue receiving the “Chatterbox” and keep up to date on all the news affecting the Kalkaska County Seniors. I have enclosed my $10.00 yearly subscription fee. Name: _______________________ Spouse:_______________________ Address: _____________________ City: ________________________ State:___ Zip: _____ Please make checks payable to: Kalkaska County COA P.O. Box 28 Kalkaska, MI 49646 NFT (Nursing Facility Transition) Program Do you have a family member or friend who is currently living in a nursing home and they need help planning for their return home? Do you know someone who has a loved one in the nursing home and the wish is to bring them back home? With the help of NFT Program, these wished could become reality! To participate in the program, an adult must live in a nursing facility and want to move back to a community setting. They must also be financially eligible to receive Medicaid assistance. In Northwest Lower Michigan, the NFT Program is administered by the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, Northern Health Care Management and the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan. A simple phone call and conversation with an Intake Specialist will help determine potential eligibility and provide valuable information about options to consider. For more information on this program call Doris Ellery, Care Connections Supervisor, 800-442-1713, at Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan. ********************************************** Kaley’s Blood Pressure Clinics for November South Boardman – 4th - 11am – Noon Kalkaska – 5th – 11am – Noon Rapid City – 12th – 10:30am - Noon UPCOMING COA TRIPS Washington D.C. – May 14-20, 2015 $649 per person based on double occupancy New Orleans – Sept. 26-Oct.4, 2015 $739 per person based on double occupancy ************************************************ Monthly donators to Programs & Services Irene Estelle Mary Ellen Sheets Peggy Holt Dee Moeser Judy Maxon Jane Miller Thank-You! These donations are truly appreciated as they help keep our programs going. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Manistee Lake Inn Buffet is cancelled for November. The COA Senior Center is losing a lot of silverware, please be careful when emptying lunch trays into the garbage! Looking for a gift for that special senior? How about lunch on you? The COA offers a gift card with 10 lunchs at any Kalkaska County meal site for a donation of $20.00. Is breakfast or dinner more their style? How about Dining Out certificates? Dining Out certificates may be used at a variety of local restaurants and are valid for 90 days. Certificates are available for a donation of $3.00 Bev’s Chatter Tea, tea and more tea! The Out to Lunch Bunch loves tea! Our September adventure included a stop at the Light of Day Tea Farm. We made their day...our gals nearly bought out the store! I’m opening a tea shop! We’re off to Raven Hill Discovery Center Oct 21 Calling all curious minds! This trip should be the most interesting of all we’ve taken! We’ll explore art, science and history and we’ll do it both inside and outside! There is a fiber studio, turtle pond, alternative energy house and much more. Bus departs at 8:30 a.m. and returns by 2:30 p.m. You can try a different restaurant for lunch in Boyne City (on your own as usual). Bus fee $10. Center fee $8. Please have $8 in cash to give me before we leave so we don’t waste time at the center. Bus money due by Oct. 10. Elegant dining in November The OLB season wraps up with an elegant lunch at Lobdell’s in Traverse City on Thursday, Nov. 13. Members loved it last year! Seating is limited to 20 guests so reserve and pay the $10 bus fee ASAP. Unpaid reservations will be forfeited to the waiting list on Nov. 2. Our reservation is for 11:30 a.m. so we’ll depart at 10:30 a.m. Open enrollment for Rx plans begins Oct. 15 It’s that confusing time again—open enrollment for Medicare Rx plans. Letting the confusion get the best of you can be expensive! Let our MMAP counselors help you find the plan that’s best for you. Call now to schedule a free appointment - 258-5030. Now let’s make a few things clear: as a Medicare recipient, you are exempt from the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Did you know that insurance companies develop Rx programs with various large pharmacy chains? If you have an extensive or expensive medication list, changing insurance plans may be cost effective. MMAP counselors are unbiased—they will simply input the information you bring to find your best options. So be prepared for the appointment...bring Medicare card, current insurance plan information, and list of all medications with dosages. Are you aware that you can change supplemental insurance plans any time of year? Be sure you are getting what you are paying for there, too. Finally, remember that all the information filling your mailbox is advertising and, of course, biased. Heating and Cooling: Top 5 Energy Saving (and Bill Cutting) Tips - from Popular Mechanics More than half of home energy use goes to space heating and cooling. The key to ratcheting up efficiency is to treat the entire house as one system More than half of home energy use goes to space heating and cooling. The key to ratcheting up efficiency is to treat the entire house as one system, says Chandler von Schrader, who oversees a DOE/EPA program called Home Performance with Energy Star. "If you call a heating contractor, they just want to put in a new system, and if you call an insulator, they'll just throw in insulation," he says. Contractors say that most homes can cut their bills by at least 30 percent. Syracuse, N.Y.-based GreenHomes America guarantees a minimum 25 percent reduction after an audit and retrofit -- or they'll pay twice the difference for two years. The cost of the audit, about $250 to $500, comes off the bill for any subsequent upgrades. Think your home is already too efficient to carve off 25 percent? "It's possible," says Mike Rogers of GreenHomes, "but we haven't seen one yet." >> 1. Blind Tricks In summer, close blinds during the day to keep the sun's heat out. In winter, open them during the day; close them at night. >> 2. A/C Speed In summer, lower an air conditioner's fan setting; the unit will remove more humidity, boosting comfort while saving energy. >> 3. Clean Heat Keep furnace filters and warm-air registers clean, and bleed trapped air from radiators at least once a season. >> 4. Fan Smarts Don't leave kitchen and bath fans running too long; they send climate-controlled air outside. >> 5. Fireplace Fix Fix or install doors on fireplaces -- a blaze sends heated air up the chimney as fast as 24,000 cu. ft. per hour. Wanted: Polyester material and rug yarn. Contact Pat Cooper @231-735-4280 51 Healthy Foods You Can Say “Yes” To! 15. Cantelope: That orange color inside should clue you in that cantaloupe is a great source of beta-carotene – 100% of your daily value in a single cup. Cantaloupe is no slouch in the vitamin C count either, with 113% of daily needs per cup. Other melons such as honeydew are also good choices, though lower in both beta-carotene and vitamin C. 16. Carrots: You knew carrots were good for you, but did you know how good? Carrots are a prime example of why it’s important to eat a “rainbow” of different fruits and vegetables representing the whole spectrum of colors. This orange option delivers 150% of your daily vitamin A in just a half a cup, plus lesser percentages of a variety of other vitamins and minerals. 17. Cauliflower: Don’t let the pasty white color fool you. Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable (meaning it’s from the mustard family), just like broccoli and brussels sprouts. Compounds in cruciferous vegetables have been suggested as possible cancer protectors. In any case, cauliflower packs a nutritional punch, with 45% of your daily vitamin C in just a half a cup. 18. Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts offer great convenience and a good way to get protein (half your daily value in a three ounce serving) without a lot of fat (three grams total), including just one gram of saturated fat) or calories (140, only 18% of them fat). Broil, bake or grill – don’t fry – to keep chicken a smart choice. 19. Collard Greens: Another option in the dark-green category, collard greens are packed with vitamin A. You’ll get 150% of your daily value of A in just a half cup of cooked collard greens, plus 30% of your vitamin C and 15% of calcium. Operation Christmas Child – Bring a shoebox filled with gifts for a child…socks, soaps, small toys, etc. Collection center is the Peoples Church in Kalkaska. 3rd week of November is collection week. For more info call Juanita @ 258-2494 November BIRTHDAYS st 1 – Wayne Ingersoll Philo Clark Devere Bourne 2nd – Lamora Riddell Larry Curneal 4th – Willard Hittle 5th – Jacqueline Humphrey Chuck Burgess Herb Helbig 6th – Peggy Young Ben Coffey 7th – Carol Blow Fred Rau Carleen Brunson 8th – Shirley Zirkle Elaine White Sharon Rose 9th – Leon Chapman Carol Hart Cheryl Round 10th – Kathleen Gosselin Robert Imler 11th – Rex Headapohl 12th – Dennis Smith 13th – Thelma Walker 14th – Willard Ryckman 15th – Phyllis Morningstar 16th – Alma Sliney 19th – Sandra Pinkosky Jackie Howie 20th – Gene Abramczyk Joseph Pruchnicki 22nd – Charlene Barko Loretta Fichtner Ron Kea Christine Zimny Marlene Bangs 23rd - Maryl Hesse Linda Underhill Irene Howe Jane Rowell 24th - Joanne Scott Janet Jackson 25th - Ardis Klausing Doris Gwisdala 26th - Shirley Thurlow Joanne Zarzycki Lyle Thornburg 27th - Sally Otto Betty Footen 28th – Alan Seeley James Martin Tyrone Shauan Elizabeth Reeves 29th - Joe Yates Patricia LaCroix Janet Munchbach 30th - Zig Bogumil Rheo Chartrand 17th – Laura Purtill John Underhill Dale Prough Edna Wahl Chuck Van Zile 18th – Gerry Martindale Colleen Smith Happy Birthday to You!!!!!! Fun Facts about the First Thanksgiving The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach North America. They sailed on the ship, which was known by the name of 'Mayflower'. They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land. The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving's feast table. Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast. The pilgrims didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers. Thanksgiving Facts throughout History Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in the 1920's. In 1939, President Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would take place on November 23rd, not November 30th, as a way to spur economic growth and extend the Christmas shopping season. Congress to passed a law on December 26, 1941, ensuring that all Americans would celebrate a unified Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year. Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President. The President does not eat the live turkey. He "pardons" it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm. Fun Facts about Thanksgiving Today In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations. Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 - 18 pounds of turkey. Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. Although, Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Fun Turkey Facts The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger. Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef. Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity. Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise. Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly. Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks. A large group of turkeys is called a flock. Turkeys have poor night vision. It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey. A 16-week-old turkey is called a fryer. A five to seven month old turkey is called a young roaster. NOVEMBER MENU Mon November Activities Tues 4th – Care & Share Craft Group 10am – 12pm th 4 – Euchre – 1:00pm Wed Thurs Fri All meals include milk, vegetable and fruit 3 Beef Pasty 4 Crab Stuffed Pollack 5 Chicken 6 Cabbage Roll 7 Hamburger 6th – Hot Fudge Sundae @ Lunch 10 th 11 – Veteran’s Day Celebration (All Veterans are welcome to join us for lunch – Any age!!!!) Stuffed 11 Meatloaf/Gravy 12 Pork Chop 13 Goulash Green 14 Chicken Breasts Peppers th 14 – Pickle Day 18th – Care & Share Craft Group 10am – 12pm 17 Chicken & 21 – Mexican Day Chili 19 Fish 25 Beef Tips & Gravy 26 Turkey Dinner 21 Chicken & Meat Sauce 24 Teriyaki Chicken 20 Spaghetti Noodles 18th – Euchre – 1:00pm st 18 Taco 27 28 CLOSED CLOSED Kalkaska – No RSVP Needed Rapid City – Connie: 331-6102 Call by 8:30 am S. Boardman – Blanche: 369-2700 Call by 9:30am Bear Lake - Tracy 231-564-1806 Call after 8:30am Come join us for lunch and enjoy good food, fun and games, lots of laughs and prizes. Start with a salad at 11:30am, the main course is served at 12:00. For those 60 yrs. and over a suggested $2.00 donation is appreciated. If under 60 yrs. the charge is $5.00. Dining with Friends has been a great success for the last year. Everyone seems to truly enjoy this monthly dinner. Due to the holidays in November and December we will not be doing the dinners. We will resume in January. ************************************ The COA will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27 &28, so the staff may celebrate Thanksgiving with their family and friends. Those who have services on these days will be notified of when their services will be provided for those days. Attention!! AARP is looking for volunteers in the Kalkaska Area who are willing to help with Income Tax preparation for area seniors and low income individuals, if interested please call Lori @ 231-384-3073. MISSION STATEMENT The Kalkaska County Commission on Aging Mission is to develop and manage a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older adults designed to create opportunities for those individuals to attain an independent quality of life while maintaining their dignity. “Funding for the COA is provided by senior millage, Federal and State funding through the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging and client donations. These agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.” Kalkaska County Commission on Aging Phone: 231-258-5030 Fax 231-258-2619 Monday through Friday 8 am – 4 30 pm Gay Rowell/Director Debbie Kimball/Assistant Director Board Members Jerry Brandon – Edith Ingersoll – Carrol Cort Susannah Hansen – Margaret Nichols – Sally Otto Telesha Temple Patty Cox (County Liaison) Executive Board Clark Kinsey – Chairman Richard Otto – Vice-Chairman Brenda Vowels – Secretary Mary LeBlanc – Mary Ladach Barb Babcock Web Page: www.kalkaskacounty.net Check out our web page for more info on trips, etc. Kalkaska County COA P.O. Box 28 Kalkaska, MI 49646 Upcoming Board Meetings November 17, 2014 @10:00a.m.
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