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 FREE Hearing Aid Batteries
Many thanks to Kentucky Assistive Technology Services (KATS) and POWERMAX who donated thousands of
new hearing aid batteries to be distributed to local residents. The Office for Aging & Disabled Citizens has three sizes (10s, 13s, and 312s) available on a first come, first served basis. The 'Best Used
By' date is 02/2016, but they are still in excellent working order.
Persons in need can come to the OADC office located on the 2nd floor of The Edison Center, in the Community Services Suite. The Edison Center address is 701 W. Ormsby Avenue, Louisville, KY 40203.
Please call Sarah Teeters for more information and/or to check availability at 502-574-5092.
You can also call KATS at 1-800-327-5287 for information on pick up at their site or to donate used hearing aids that will be refurbished and provided to those in need.
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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Subsidy Phase & Early Registrations
Louisville Metro Community Services' LIHEAP Program is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to help low-income residents pay utility bills. The Subsidy component of LIHEAP will begin November 1, 2016.
Pre-registration opportunities for the Subsidy Program will be offered during October for those residents who are on a fixed income, and who are elderly (age 60 or over) or disabled receiving social security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits. Click here for a complete list of pre-registration dates/times/locations.
Applicants must be Jefferson County residents within 130% of the federal poverty guidelines and willing to provide the documentation below.
- Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Awards letter, pay stubs, etc.). All individuals 18 or over in the household with no income must have a Proof of No Income form completed prior to applying for benefits. (Available at the Community Services' office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 or by clicking here.
- Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card)for each member of the household.
- Most current heating bill, statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent, or statement from utility company if you participate in Pre-Pay Electric Program. The account number and name on the account for all heating fuel sources and electric.
How to apply for LIHEAP Subsidy if you don’t qualify for pre-registration?
Residents who don’t meet the requirements for pre-registration - and who are income eligible - may still apply for LIHEAP Subsidy benefits starting November 1, 2016. Appointments must be made in advance beginning mid-to-late October by calling 502-574-1157 or visiting the NEW online appointment system at louisvilleky.gov and entering 'LIHEAP' in the main search box.
A representative can help you apply.
Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf. Simply provide the representative with a hand-written note, dated and signed from the applicant, giving them permission to handle their application for services.
The representative will need to provide the required documentation listed above for the applicant that is required to apply for the services/programs.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that 2017
Medicare Advantage premiums will remain stable and more enrollees will have
access to higher quality plans while, for the seventh straight year, enrollment
is projected to increase to a new all-time high. In addition, CMS released updated
information that shows that millions of seniors and people with disabilities
with Medicare continue to enjoy prescription drug discounts and affordable
benefits as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The announcement comes as CMS
releases the premiums and costs for Medicare health and drug plans for the 2017
calendar year.
CMS estimates that the average Medicare Advantage monthly premium will
decrease by $1.19 (about 4 percent) in 2017, from $32.59 on average in 2016 to
$31.40. This would be 13 percent lower than the average Medicare Advantage
premium prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act. The majority of Medicare
Advantage enrollees (67 percent) will experience no premium increase.
Average premiums in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program will also
remain stable and beneficiaries have saved billions on prescription drugs. In
July 2016, CMS announced that the average basic premium for a Medicare
prescription drug plan in 2017 is projected to be an estimated $34 per month.
Today's projections show that access to a prescription drug plan will remain
strong in 2017, with 100 percent access to a plan in the individual market and
improved access to employer plans.
Medicare Open Enrollment for 2017 Medicare health and drug plans begins on
October 15, 2016 and ends on December 7, 2016. Plan costs and covered benefits
can change from year to year. Medicare beneficiaries should look at their
coverage choices and decide what options best meet their needs. Beneficiaries
can visit Medicare.gov
(http://www.medicare.gov), call
1-800-MEDICARE, or contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program
(SHIP).
For more information on the premiums and costs of 2017 Medicare health and
drug plans, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/index.html
For more information on Medicare Open Enrollment, including state-by-state
fact sheets, please click here.
For state-by-state information on discounts in the donut hole, please
click here.
For state-by-state information on utilization of preventive services at no
cost sharing to beneficiaries in Medicare, please click here.
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2016 Senior Summit
"Empowering Freedom through Collaboration"
Registration is now open for the 2016 Senior Summit, sponsored by the Attorney General’s Office of Senior Protection.
The Summit will be held Wednesday, October 19, 2016, from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (registration from 8:00 am - 9:00 am) at the Administrative Office of the Courts located at 1001 Vandalay Drive, Frankfort, KY. Registration is free, but you must register online.
Registration is open to all senior service providers working with seniors and their families at any level in the Commonwealth. The Summit is an opportunity for participants to engage in a collaborative community effort by building successful partnerships in combating elder fraud, abuse and exploitation.
Other topics and speakers will include:
- Collaborative federal programs concerning Jamaican scams – US Postal Inspection Service
- Reverse Mortgages and Seniors – KY Department of Financial Institutions
- Emergency Housing Initiatives for Seniors
- Trending scams, investigations, and partnerships – The Better Business Bureau, AARP, and the Office of the Attorney General.
The OAG does not discriminate on the basis of protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information in employment or in the provision of services and provides upon request, reasonable accommodation necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities. Please notify Corey Bellamy, OAG/EEO Coordinator, Suite 34, Capitol Building, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, (502) 696-5679, by October 5, 2016, if an accommodation is necessary for participation in this conference.
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 When Does A Senior’s Collecting Habits Become A Problem?
Seniors are often more prone to hoarding, as hoarding tendencies usually worsen with age. Simply accumulating items does not constitute as hoarding, but when clutter accumulation becomes extensive and begins affecting other aspects of the senior’s life, then hoarding may be an issue. Hoarding can be dangerous due to its various impacts, so recognizing hoarding early on can help to improve the life of the senior before major complications occur.
Be aware of the signs of a senior clutter problem in order to recognize and address hoarding tendencies earlier. Here are 15 signs to be on the lookout for:
- Difficulty managing daily tasks
- Lost and/or piles of mail and unpaid bills
- Expired food items
- Expired medications
- Broken appliances
- Excessive attachment to items
- Inability to discard items, no matter how little value they hold
- Social isolation
- Compulsive shopping
- Blocked pathways, doorways, and/or windows
- Rooms are not able to be used for intended use
- Structural damages
- Unsanitary conditions
- Trash and/or human waste
- Pest infestation
The first step to resolving a hoarding situation is to begin with education about hoarding behavior. Having an understanding of what hoarding is and how individuals who hoard think and behave is crucial to be able to properly help. The tips below will help you begin to develop an understanding of hoarding in order to better prepare you to address a hoarding situation.
1. Be aware that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Though an average person may view some items as valueless, people with hoarding behavior feel there is value associated with the items. These said people may have difficulty distinguishing an item of value from one without, and may retain items such as impractical trinkets or trash items.
2. Know that these individuals may have a strong attachment to their belongings. There may be sentimental reasoning behind each item or simply having owned the item for a long time, a connection to the item has developed. The stronger the attachment to the item, the more difficult (and even painful) it can be to part with it.
3. Don’t associate hoarding behavior with a particular “type” of person; there isn’t a specific profile to a “hoarder.” Anyone can have hoarding behavior, regardless of social class, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, etc.
4. Understand that hoarding can impact everyone. Hoarding conditions can produce various dangers (physical, mental, emotional, financial, social, etc.) which can affect the individual who is hoarding as well as others. People living with an individual who is hoarding may develop resentment towards the person and their predicament. Communities may be affected by odors or pests that do not stay within the hoarding boundaries. Emergency personnel may even be harmed in an attempt to assist inhabitants of a hoarding home during an emergency situation.
5. Try to be patient, empathetic, and compassionate. Be patient when approaching an individual with hoarding behavior and try to put yourself in their shoes to understand their behavior and how they feel. Try not to judge and avoid hostility as it will only make the situation worse and potentially close the individual off to help.
If you intend to approach a family member, friend, or client about his/her hoarding habits, Address Our Mess recommends viewing their Hoarding Help Guide prior to discussion in order to know what to say (and what to avoid) in order to be more effective in your approach. In addition to knowledge, outlets that can help resolve hoarding include therapists, social workers, support groups, hoarding task forces, and specialty cleaning services. Equipped with a better understanding of hoarding and available local resources, you and your loved ones will be able to overcome hoarding and restore property conditions.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking applications for membership on its Disability Advisory Committee.
Members will serve for two years, beginning on December 30, 2016. The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the FCC on disability issues, including telecommunications relay services, closed captioning and accessibility of televised emergency information. Deadline for applications is October 14, 2016. This link opens a PDF file and is also available in text format. Visit Disability.gov to learn more about assistive and accessible technologies.
Visit Apply for FCC Disability Advisory Committee — Deadline October 14
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Magnolia
Springs East Louisville Senior Living is looking for a dedicated and
compassionate person with the heart to serve older adults to join our team as
our Staffing Coordinator. Please call (502) 855-7500 for more information or
email Sara Townsend at stownsend@mag-springs.com.
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