Medicare Lists New Information on Physicians and other Health Care Workers
The Physician Directory provided by Medicare and Medicaid services has been improved with new information about doctors and other healthcare worker, including information these professionals provide.
“The new Physician Compare tool begins to fill an important gap ...and helps pave the way for consumers to have similar information about their physicians as they have for nursing homes, home health agencies and health and drug plans.” The new site, at www.medicare.gov/find-adoctor, which was required by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, includes information on all physicians enrolled in the Medicare program,
as well as other health professionals who routinely care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Want to Join the Senior Council?
Check out the “Citizen Advisory Boards” section of
www.deland.org , click on “Senior Council,” click on “application, ” then fill it out and mail it in. Soon, you could be hearing you have been selected to become a member of the august body referred to as the Senior Council.
Coming Back by Popular Demand CarFit! Join Us
Senior Resource Directory Being Updated
The Council is beginning to revise the Senior Resource Directory-- due to be published around September 2011. If you notice any changes that should be made, please notify us at the e-mail address in the box, below. Who knows? We might make the requested change.
Consumer Fraud Prevention
Consumer fraud is a serious crime. It can be financially devastating when committed against seniors. Five-million cases of elder financial exploitation occur annually. DeLand seniors are not immune. ElderSource, a vital ally to seniors in Florida, has produced a set of four videos, each around fifteen minutes, including, Cyber/Internet Crime, Telemarketing Fraud, Identity Theft, and Contracting and Home
Repair Scams.
These can be viewed on their website at
www.elderesource.org or can be purchased for programming purposes by mailing Lale Gerger at
lale@myeldersource.org. A very valuable resource. Check it out.
Elder Update Available—Free!
The Florida department of Elder Affairs produces an outstanding newsletter for Florida seniors, called
Elder Update. This bi-monthly effort is available free and can be obtained by filling out and mailing the
following form: Department of Elder Affairs, Elder Update 4040 Esplanade Way Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000 Please allow 8-10 weeks to receive first issue.
Elder Update is distributed free to elder Floridians
First Name_________________ M. Initial ______
Last Name________________________________
City____________________ State______Street
Address or P.O. Box______________________
County_____________
Zip Code_____________
Signature___________________________________
Date________________
(Postal regulations require that the person’s signature receiving the subscription be the one requesting the subscription)
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Volunteer!
Volunteering is the surest thing in this issue that will make you feel better after eating all that food during the holidays. Call Pat: 736-5016. Or e-mail her at: volunteers@deland.org Today!
Book Sale
The super monthly book sale at the Library will be held January12 and 13, 9:30-4; 50 cents is the top price. $2 dollars a bag on Saturday afternoon! How’s that for a Happy New Year? Take that, Kindle readers!
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AARP Survey: Protecting Social Security Paramount
With the Congress about to return to work, considerable attention has been focused upon attempts to curtail our increasing debt. A non-partisan committee spent several months trying to find a solution and . . . failed.
The committee almost came up with enough supporters to curtail Social Security payments and reduce Medicare funds. Kind of scary, huh?
The group’s failure to achieve its mission, however, will not slow down the House of Representatives in its efforts to accomplish the same goal, using the same two programs; programs crucial to the senior community.
AARP recently conducted a survey among 40 and above citizens and found—not surprisingly—that going after these two senior programs is not this cohort’s idea of a good solution. The survey revealed that, while
“creating jobs” was number one, “protecting Social Security” was a solid second. Debates over increasing age eligibility, increasing the salary cap for contributions, means testing for eligibility, and privatizing at least part of Social Security can be expected. On the Medicare issue, expect increasing premiums, increasing co-pays, and even privatizing through vouchers to be popular debate topics. However, first, the House has to vote on abolishing “Obamacare” before the month is out. Hold on to your hats . . . and wallets.
10 Tips for Your New Year’s Resolutions
All month you have been waiting for the New Year to make
a change. You waited for New Year’s Eve to make your
resolutions and set your intentions! You’ve conveniently
forgotten that most the resolutions and intentions from this
year remain un-achieved. It isn’t that they weren’t important;
just that ‘life’ got in the way and you never got around to it.
Life is about choosing. Claiming and using your right to
choose is very important in having the life you say you want.
Throughout the year, when you find that you’ve changed
your mind about something, take it off the list.
So that this year will be different and since you’ve waited to
get started, here are some tips to help you make meaningful
resolutions and set intentions that support you in having the
life you say you want.
1. Take an in depth look at your life, who you are and
how you show up.
2. Decide if this is the way you want your life to be
365 days from now.
3. Give yourself permission to move in the direction of
the life you say you want.
4. Chart your course; set goals toward achieving your
dream life.
5. Do something daily that takes you closer to your
dream
6. Keep a journal of your progress.
7. Celebrate something daily.
8. This is about you and for you.
9. Ask for help when you need to.
10. Express gratitude daily.
wondering where to start, my friend Sallie Felton gives
excellent advice with, “Start where you stand.”
Saying that you want something different without thinking
and acting differently ensures that you continue to have your
pipe dream. Are you willing to stop procrastinating and start
doing? Imagine
the difference you will experience knowing
that you took full responsibility and control in creating the
life you say you want!
Wishing you joy, health, prosperity and love in the New
Year
Inez Bracy, BS, MS, CNLP, CGC, Lifestyle Transitions
Coach, Speaker, Author Inez@bracy.com
January Calendar
At The Athens
Live Entertainment:
21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, & Feb. 4—The Sands Theater Company Presents:
Noises Off! (The funniest farce EVER! Honest!)
Film:
7—
Tamara Drewe (When the ugly duckling sashays back to the village of her youth, everything is turned upside down)
Independent Film Trilogy:
8--
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
9--
The Girl that Played with Fire
15--
The Girl that Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
(If you don’t know about these titles, you wouldn’t be interested in seeing the films)
14—
Inspector Bellamy (A multi-award winning exquisite slice of crime—done the way they do it in France)
26—
Made in Dagenham (A moving story about equal pay for women, takes place in England,-- but it could just as well be here)
29—
A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop (The mayhem ingenious, the scenery will blow you away)
Opera:
2 & 9—
As You Like It (Shakespeare at the Globe. Beautiful stuff)
Ballet:
2 & 16—
Les Flammes De Paris (The Bolshoi presents a kind of “folk ballet” honoring “freedom, equality, and brotherhood”) For more information and/or reservations, call the box office at 736-1500, or go online at:
www.athenstheatre.org
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AT STETSON
14—Art Faculty Exhibition, Duncan Gallery
18—“Reflections,” John Lucas one-man show chronicles the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of Martin Luther King, Jr., Carlton Union
23—Faculty Music Recital -Bassoon and Piano, Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall
30—Guest Recital-Baroque Flute Ensemble, Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall
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Events at The SANBORN
M- Senior Tennis Clinic-8:15, Shuffleboard-
1:30, Monday Dance 2-4, Square Dance-6
T- Chorus Practice-2:30, Pinochle-
6:30, Ballroom Dance Lessons-6:30
W-Tai-Chi-8:30, It’s All About Art-9:45,
Charley Baker Bridge-12, Chess Club-12,
Mexican Train-12:45, Pinochle-6:30
T-Quilters-8:30, Canasta-11, Ballroom
Dance Lessons-2:30
F-West Volusia Artists-9, Shuffleboard
Open Play-1:30
(For more details on any of these activities, check out
www.deland.org and click on the Senior Services Calendar, or call 740-6860)
