Bulletins--NW Michigan

EMERGENCY HELP NOW AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS

Traverse City, Mich. – Emergency help is available for Grand Traverse County senior citizens to give them a voice when they can’t speak for themselves. The Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging is distributing Medical Emergency Information (MEI) Cards that will make vital medical and personal information available in times of emergency.

The bright yellow cards are filled out with critical information and placed on the refrigerator, where emergency responders are trained to look. The cards contain information about medical conditions, allergies, medications used and emergency contact persons. A card should be completed for each person living in the home. The MEI cards are especially helpful if the senior is unconscious or unable to speak.

“We want to make sure our seniors have the protection they need in an emergency,” says Commission on Aging Director, Georgia Durga. “We feel it’s a part of our responsibility to help them out when they are most in need.”

The cards are available, at no charge, to all senior citizen residents of Grand Traverse County. They may be picked up at the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging office, 520 W. Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan, M – F, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cards can also be mailed to your home by calling 231-922-4688, or, toll free, 1-877-686-4688.

The Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging provides a variety of services that assist senior citizen residents, age 60 or older.

If you would like more information about Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging board meetings or services, contact (231) 922-4688, or toll free, 1-877-686-4688. The public is invited to attend all Board meetings of the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging.

Bay Area Senior Advocates (BASA) has just made an updated tool for senior citizens, and their families, called the SENIOR HELP CARD. The SENIOR HELP CARD lists different types of services and assistance available to senior citizens in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, along with their telephone numbers. The card can also be used to record important health information such as physician name and telephone number, pharmacist name and telephone number, prescriptions taken and allergies.

The SENIOR HELP CARD has an added benefit of having the website address for the Senior Corner, a nationally recognized website for senior citizens. This site can be used to further identify and learn about senior services and assistance available.

The SENIOR HELP CARD, a small white card with black print, can be kept in a wallet or purse. There is no charge for the card. You can get a copy of the SENIOR HELP CARD at the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging and the Traverse City Senior Center. Call the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging for more information at (231) 922-4688, or toll free, 1-877-686-4688.

Three Parkinson's support groups meet monthly in Traverse City and Frankfort, MI. For more information, call 231/947-1946.

Free Senior Swim, ages 62+
Every Friday afternoon, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Northport Health & Fitness Center
215 S. High Street
call 231/386-9900

www.northporthighlands.com

Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan is looking to enlist more volunteers to assist in its Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP). MMAP is a program that uses trained volunteers with benefit claims, medication coverage eligibility, and problems and questions on related issues.

The MMAP program is housed at the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan (AAANM) and provides assistance in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties. The MMAP program is supported by federal and state funds and provides consultation and assistance to older persons without charge.

The federal government is about to introduce the new Medicare prescription drug coverage that will assist seniors with obtaining needed medications. Many beneficiaries will be facing crucial decisions about their prescription plans.

A continuum of training is provided to support and empower MMAP volunteers in their service to the community.

If you are interested in becoming a trained volunteer counselor or need more information about the MMAP program, please contact the Area aging on Aging of Northwest Michigan in Traverse City at (231) 947-8920, 1-800-442-1713, or 1-800-803-7174. AAANM is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

As of May 2005, the Federal Trade Commission began releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers. This means YOU get to pay for the minutes you talk to them. Each call you receive costs at least one minute of fees. You may get your number blocked to telemarketers for 5 years by calling (from the number you want blocked) the National Do Not Call List toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 or go online to www.dontcall.gov

Bay Area Senior Advocates (BASA) has just made available a new resource tool for senior citizens, and their families, entitled the SENIOR HELP CARD. The SENIOR HELP CARD lists various types of services and assistance available to senior citizens in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, along with telephone numbers. The card can also be used to record important health information such as physician name and telephone number, pharmacist name and telephone number, prescriptions taken and allergies.

The SENIOR HELP CARD includes the website address for the Senior Corner, a nationally recognized website for senior citizens. This website can be accessed to further identify and learn about senior services and assistance available in the Grand Traverse/Leelanau area.

The SENIOR HELP CARD, a small yellow card with blue print, can be kept in a wallet or purse. There is no charge for the card. You can get a copy of the SENIOR HELP CARD at the Traverse Area District Library, the Grand Traverse or Leelanau Commission on Aging, the Traverse City Senior Center, Munson Home Health Care, many local pharmacies, the Grand Traverse County Governmental Center and many other locations. Call the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging for more information at (231) 922-4688, or toll free, 1-877-686-4688.

Health care providers across Northern Michigan are teaming up with the Fitness Council of Northern Michigan in collaboration with local sponsor organizations and city governments to develop a yearly program to improve physical fitness and lower the incidence of sedentary related disease in our communities.

Let’s Get Moving Northern Michigan (LGMNM) is designed to encourage adults, children, long-time exercisers, and especially “newcomers to exercise" to set some personal goals and exercise on a regular basis. Participants are encouraged to walk 100 miles (or any equivalent activity, i.e. bicycling) during a 100-day period and keep track of the number of "miles" they have earned.

The Fitness Council of Northern Michigan will also award a plaque to the Northern Michigan City with the most miles logged (Alpena took the award in 2003 out of 15 participating communities). This year each city will be classified as small, medium or large and the fitness council will award a plaque to the most miles logged in each category. Last year, participating communities logged over 350,000 total miles! Your communities miles will be posted on the Let’s Get Moving Northern Michigan website.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, call the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging at 922-4688 or toll-free at 1-877-686-4688.

We have the help you need if you are 60 or older and live in Grand Traverse County!

The Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging is offering free cellular phones for use in emergency situations for senior county residents. In the event of an emergency, these phones may be used to call 9-1-1. Since November 2001, The Grand Traverse County COA has distributed 96 phones to low-income senior citizens who qualify for assistance.

Local community members and businesses donated these phones, which are tested before distribution by 9-1-1 staff. These cell phones are offered with no charge. For more information, call us at 922-4688.

The Alzheimer's Association Northwest Michigan Chapter and Lake Ann United Methodist Church are co-sponsoring a new support group for those touched by Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Meetings will be at 2:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Lake Ann United Methodist Church, 6583 First Street.

Participants share information, give and receive support, and exchange coping skills in matters relating to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. For details, call the Alzheimer's Association toll-free at (800) 337-3827.

Several community agencies have formed Partners in Respite, an effort to improve services to homebound seniors. To help determine needs, please answer the following questions. You may print out this form and mail your answers to Grand Traverse Commission on Aging
520 W. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
___________________________________________________

A. Caregiver relief (respite)
      circle one:
    in-home   adult daycare overnight bed     _____         _____
___________________________________________________

B. Transportation                                        _____         _____
___________________________________________________

C. In-home assistance
(meals, personal care, medical) _____ _____
___________________________________________________

D. Supplementary Health Insurance _____ _____
___________________________________________________

E. Long-term Care _____ _____
___________________________________________________

2. For A - C above, from whom would you most like to receive
services (rank 1 - 3)?
___Family Member ___Friend/Neighbor ___Professional

3. Would you be willing to be trained as a volunteer respite
provider? ___Yes ___No

4. If so, may we contact you when training opportunities are
     scheduled? NAME:
                          ADDRESS:
                          PHONE:

5. Would you support funding for respite care via the millage levied
by the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging in 2004?
___yes ___no

Benzie County senior citizens are now able to take part in the National Prescription Health Plan.

The program allows seniors to save up to 50% on prescription drugs after paying a $15 yearly fee. It will be administered through the County Commission on Aging.

Applications are now available at the COA office in Honor for those who do not have other prescription drug coverage. You must qualify for the National Prescription Health Plan card.

This group, open to all seniors, meets every Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Traverse City Senior Center, 801 E. Front Street. Discussion topics may include

Seniors who live within the city limits of Traverse City may arrange to have a free security inspection of their homes by the Traverse City Police Department. A friendly officer will look things over locks, lighting, and access and make recommendations if any security measures could be improved. The program is voluntary, and homeowners will be free to decide what to do about the checklist which the officer will leave behind.

Appointments are necessary. Please call Officer Marjorie Marshall at 947-7742, the Traverse City Senior Center at 922-4911, the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging at 922-4688, or the Family Independence Agency at 941-3900.

Donations of hand phones, including handsets and chargers, are needed for our local senior citizens. This program is for senior citizens who cannot afford the cost of regular telephone service, but who could use a cellular phone for emergency situations.
There is no fee or charge for senior citizens participating in this program.

Drop sites for cellular phones are located at the Traverse City Senior Center (801 Front Street, TC), Family Independence Agency (920 Hastings Street, TC), and the Grand Traverse Commisssion on Aging (520 West Front Street, TC).

To apply for a phone or to get more information, call the Grand Traverse Commission on Aging at (231) 922-4688 or at 1-877-686-4688.

Board Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at the COA office, 520 W. Front, Traverse City. Public invited. Call (231) 922-4688 or at 1-877-686-4688 for dates.

Does your community organization have an announcement or bulletin of interest to seniors to add? Send an email to Mike Sheehan at ak797@tcnet.org