JOIN US FOR THIS FREE – 

‘MUST ATTEND’ TRAINING WORKSHOP 

Learn about Prescription Drug Coverage,

Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Saving Programs, Social Security Benefits, and other major benefit changes for the

2015 year.

FEATURING: 

 SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)

 Social Security

 Medicaid

 Medicare Health Plans

 Veterans Affairs

 SenioRx

200 PERSON LIMITED SPACE. 

CALL NOW. 

Deadline is September 29, 2014

RSVP @ (251) 433-6541 

Ms. Lorraine Denson

FREE LUNCH

FREE CEUS (nurse & social workers)

Sponsored by:  South Alabama Regional Planning Commission

VIA! Senior Center 

1717 Dauphin Street

Mobile, Alabama

If you have any questions pleases contact:

James Roberson, MHA

Regional SHIP Coordinator

110 Beauregard St. Mobile , AL 36602

251-706-4617 (Ph)

251-706-0896 (fax)

jroberson@sarpc.org

Link to to the open enrollment flyer 9-14

SARPC and the Area Agency on Aging invites you to The SHIP Monthly Medicare Birthday Bash!

With so many options and almost daily post cards arriving at your house, the choice can be confusing and a little overwhelming.

Before you turn 65 come to our monthly Medicare Birthday Bash for help.  See flier for more details.

Turning 65 – Birthday Bash flyer 5-14

James Roberson is a medicare counselor and community educator.  He is the coordinator of the Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and is the go to guy for information that can help you make informed choices about your health insurance.  SHIP is a service provided through the Area Agency on Aging.  SHIP can help you understand your Medicare benefits.  They can help you determine which Medicare Prescription Drug Plan best fits your needs.  They can answer questions about Medigap, long-term care insurance policies and other health insurance programs for seniors.  They can assist Medicare beneficiaries in specific areas such as home health benefits, Medicare claims and appeals and other similar issues.  This is a free service.  SHIP will not try to sell you any insurance.  They only provide education and counseling.

Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15 this year.  If you need help in choosing your Medicare Part B coverage, give James a call at 251-433-6541.  The SHIP office is located in the GM&O Building in downtown Mobile, AL.

The Area Agency on Aging is pleased to announce its new dedicated Alzheimer’s helpline.  It provides free, trusted, unbiased information about services available in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia Counties for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  The phone is answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on normal business days.  The service is provided in partnership with the Alzheimer’s &  Dementia Coalition of South Alabama.

To be eligible for Mercy LIFE Pace Program, a person must be age 55 or older, certified by the state to need nursing home care, and live in the Mercy LIFE area.

This program is able to offer care and services to seniors with chronic needs while maintaining their independence in their homes for as along as possible.

The Mobile location is in the old Mobile Rug and Shade building on Springhill Avenue.  Transportation, meals, medications and recreational activities are some of the services provided for program participants.  Look into this one-stop care opportunity by calling Gemma Campbell at 251-287-8420.

Taking care of my mother’s affairs has stretched me in many areas.  This week, it’s figuring out how to file Social Security and Medicare taxes, pay Unemployment Compensation and get a Federal Tax Payer ID.  First, you have to calculate the year’s payments to the sitter if it’s over $600.  You should have  Form I-9 , Employment Eligibility Verification and a W-9 Form, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification filled out when you hired them.  Now don’t give up, you’re just getting started.  I know this is all foreign but you just have to learn as you go.

It’s not as bad as you may think.  Working this all out on the computer makes it pretty easy if you can navigate electronically, which you can, since you are reading this.  I went to efileforbusiness.com to fill out the W-2 Form which costs $3.95 per form. If you want to know the percentages for the taxes and what to put in which box, comment after this post and I’ll help you.   Next I went to the Alabama Dept of Labor to register and begin to pay quarterly payments for Unemployment Compensation.  Yes, there is a fee if you are late with the payments, but we’ll know better next time.  Apparently, you now have to have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) which is gotten at IRS.gov at no cost.  Anyway, by starting now, you can get this all figured out before the January 31 deadline.   And you would be smart if you start with getting the EIN first, so you can use it when you file the W-2 Form.

I know it’s not unusual to pay private sitter “under the table” but if you’re ready to join the other millions of taxpayers that finance this great country of ours, this is how you do it.

Today we qualified for hospice.  We had to drop hospice three months ago when we  moved into a special care assisted living facility (SCALF).  Since we saw my mother’s doctor last week, I asked for an order to be reassessed.  Odyssey Hospice came out and did an extensive interview with me and momma,  gave me an overview of their services and we filled out paperwork.  By the end of the assessment, I was given the news that we were approved.  This means that they will provide support and care for my mother by means of medications, pullups and bed pads, and 24/7 nursing care and all medical equipment related to the terminal illness. She will have a consistent CNA coming 3 days a week to bathe her. I can call on their social worker, enjoy spiritual care and can consult them for medical advice without leaving our facility. Having hospice is like having a safety net.  Maybe you qualify for hospice and just don’t know it.  Look into it.