Sixty Seconds Newsletter 
A Monthly Update from
Senior Resources of West Michigan  
An Area Agency on Aging Serving Muskegon, Oceana & Ottawa counties
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15
As autumn progresses, it’s important to keep your health in mind. Medicare’s fall open enrollment period is the time for you to review your plan options and make any changes to your Medicare coverage.
 
Maybe you have a new prescription that is not covered by your current drug plan or you have a new health condition. To ensure you get the most from Medicare, you should research your health and drug plan options during Medicare open enrollment.
 
Open enrollment closes Dec. 7. Changes made during this time will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
 
During open enrollment, you can adjust your Medicare health or drug coverage:
·      Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or vice versa
·      Switch between Medicare Advantage Plans
·      Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
·      Switch your current drug plan
·      Drop Medicare prescription drug coverage
 
Your Medicare plan options depend on where you live. To find available health or drug plans, you can look in your Medicare & You handbook or visit medicare.gov. If you’re unsure where to start, your Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) can help - call 231-733-3572.
 
MMAPs offer free one-on-one assistance year-round to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. Trained counselors in your area can help you understand Medicare benefits and the enrollment process. Assistance is personalized, so MMAP counselors can help you find available options that best meet your unique needs.
 
The program – funded by the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – provides services in every state as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
Don't wait until the last minute. Take care of your health now and call our local office at 231-733-3572, or contact Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227 or medicare.gov. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Information provided by ACL - visit acl.gov to find out more.
Election Day is November 3
Election Day is coming in just a few weeks.

You can still apply for an absentee ballot. For more information about candidates, ballots, polling places and more, visit the Michigan Secretary of State's website: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633---,00.html.






Census deadline is Oct. 31
The deadline to complete the 2020 US Census has been extended to October 31. Encourage others to fill out the census through this link: https://2020census.gov/en.html.
Community Resources for COVID-19

CALL 2-1-1 - dial 2-1-1 for health and human services help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Senior Resources - Call our Long-Term Care Options Counselors at 231-733-3585

Muskegon County:
Oceana County: 
Ottawa County:







Dementia Friends sessions offered monthly, remotely

People with dementia sometimes need help going about their daily lives and to feel included in their communities. Dementia Friends works to give people an understanding of dementia, and the small things they can do to make a difference. 

Due to the pandemic, we are currently offering Dementia Friends via Zoom video-conferencing. All sessions are one hour.
We will use screen-sharing to go through the workbook, and will send the workbook and Dementia Friend pin out immediately after the session.


October 14, 11 a.m.
November 10, 3 p.m.
December 9, 11 a.m.

For more information, contact Lisa Tyler, ltyler@seniorresourceswmi.org, or 231-733-3509.
Free resources for seniors, caregivers
"Do you ever have difficulty using a car key?"
If it is hard for you to grip and turn a key, place the key in a key turner device. It has a large handle to make it easier to grip than a small key. 
Car remotes allow you to push a button on a key fob to unlock and lock doors and even start the car.  A numeric keypad can also be installed on the car door for unlocking the car without having to use a key.

The above information is just one example of helpful hints you can get from Active Daily Living, a free resource for older adults and caregivers, available through the Senior Resources website. It is designed for seniors and/or family members concerned about the physical safety of a loved one. Interactive modules, videos, and weekly newsletters offer no-cost or low-cost tips developed by aging experts to help with activities of daily living.

Check it out! Active Daily Living
Senior Resources of West Michigan Inc
560 Seminole Road
Muskegon, MI 49444
231.733.3585