Health and Social Services Programs

2006 Flu Clinic

November 15, 2006 - 1 pm to 5 pm

Get your flu shot and protect yourself. If you are unsure of your health insurance coverage payment, please check with them before the clinic. Please call Carole Panos RN at 463-3474 with any questions.

PREVENTION
To all senior center participants, we know how much we enjoy having you come to the Pilgrim Senior Center, but if you are not feeling well on a day when you are anticipating coming in, PLEASE stay home and help us keep illness from spreading throughout the center. If you should need assistance during that time please call the nurse's office.

Protect yourself
Hand washing is the most important thing that you can do to keep from transmitting germs not only to yourself but to other people. The Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition has generously provided hand and phone sanitizers to be distributed at the senior center. Sanitizers can be picked up at the Wellness Clinic.

PILGRIM CO-OP
The Pilgrim Co-Op is open to provide an opportunity for seniors to purchase a variety of donated items at reasonable prices. New donated items are always needed. Please drop donated items off in the administration office. Thank you.

Vintage Smiles
Wednesday, November 15, 10:00 am
Take advantage of free dental and oral cancer evaluations. The Vintage Smiles program will return in September. Call Carole Panos, RN to make an appointment with Dr. Chris Dunn.

PODIATRY CLINIC
For an appointment to the Podiatry Clinic Call Dr. Gallucci at 738-7750.

Genesis HealthCare
Tuesday, November 14, 10:00am to 11:30am
Genesis HealthCare will be at the center to offer information about their wide variety of services. Stop by and say hello.

Please welcome our new CCRI intern Lisa Bothelho and URI nursing students.

S.N.A.P.
Tuesday, November 16, 10:45am
The U.R.I. Nutrition program will present a workshop on Food Safety. This class will provide participants with ways to shop, cook and store foods for a healthy lifestyle. No registration needed. Just stop by.

BLUE CROSS VAN
Wednesday, December 6, 10:00am
The Blue Cross Van will not be at the center for the month of November. In December the program will be Healthy Eating for the Holidays.

Blue Cross Ask a Pharmacist
Monday, November 13, 10:00am to 12 noon
The Blue Cross pharmacist will be at the center to help you with your medication questions. Please bring ALL your medication with you. No appointment needed.

Equipment Lending Program
The Equipment Lending Program at the center is able to assist seniors and their families with loaning for free different kinds of medical equipment. The program is able to do so because of the generosity of Warwick residents who have donated used equipment to the program. Items can include but not limited to canes, walkers, tub chairs, bed trays, wheelchairs, tub rails, depends unopened, lambs wool coverlets, Boost, Ensure and more. Stop by or call the center with any questions.

M.O.V.E. Program
(Maintain Our Vitality with Exercise)
The M.O.V.E. Program was started 10 years ago to provide seniors with physical and occupational therapy when they have exhausted their health insurance money.
Once a senior has finished with traditional physical or occupational therapy the M.O.V.E. Program affords them the opportunity to maintain their current level of mobility. Participants meet with a physical therapist for an evaluation and to establish their maintenance program format.
Call Carole Panos at 463-3474 for more information about the M.O.V.E. Program.
M.O.V.E. is a free program.

When to wash your hands:

When they are visibly dirty.
Before you eat.
Before you prepare foods.
After touching raw meat.
After contact with body fluids.
After touching pets.
After using the rest room.
You can use regular soap and water or an alcohol hand rub.

Warwick Seniors be Informed!
I-TEAM
Warwick Senior Services Information Team will answer your questions on the following topics and more!

Senior Housing
Transportation
Medical Insurance
RIPAE
Tax Relief
Living Alone Challenges
Banking and Financial Questions
Social Service Intervention and more!
Call the I-team at 468-4500

Heating Assistance
Westbay Community Action is now scheduling appointments for heating assistance applications for residents of Warwick, West Warwick & Coventry. Income guidelines are:

• 1 person household: $22,183
• 2 person household: $29,008
• 3 person household: $35,834

Anyone with income within these guidelines should apply. This is a Federally funded program designed to help defray the high cost of heating your home.

Call 732-4660 to schedule an appointment..

Medicare Information Workshops
Still confused about what your coverage will be in 2007? Attend one or both of the following information workshops:

• Medicare Advantage Plan members: (Blue Chip or United) November 14th at 10:00am
• Medicare Supplement (Plan 65's) November 14th at 1:30pm

Please sign up at the front desk or call Linda at 463-3474

Navigating the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is preparing for the 2007 Prescription Drug Open Enrollment that begins on November 15, 2006. A part of this preparation is launching the Drug Plan Finder tool to help people with Medicare and their families and friends compare plans now and prepare for the start of open enrollment. The Plan Finder tool has been improved based on both consumer testing and suggestions from many partners. Click http://www.cmd.hhs.gov/center/partner.asp to view Navigating the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder. This short tutorial walks you through the Drug Plan Finder and highlights the changes for 2007.

Reflexology Thurs., November 9th
Relaxing, therapeutic massage of the hands and feet can help to relieve stress and tension as well as improve blood supply and nerve function. Linda Hopgood will provide private, individual half hour sessions at a discounted rate. To schedule an appointment, call Anne O’Hare at 463-3474.

Be Aware There are many Scams!
No one from Medicare would call asking for your Medicare or Social Security numbers. Protect yourself - do not give this kind of information to anyone over the phone. There is no such thing as a life time prescription drug plan. Do Not send money to win a prize or to buy life time prescription coverage - these are scams.

Pet Therapy Day, Thurs., November 16th
Do you miss having a four legged friend around? Visit with Ma-jen or Panda Girl. Pearl Salato is a certified Pet Therapist and will bring one of her dogs around 10:30am. Call Linda for more information at 463-3474.

Coping with the Holidays can be difficult when you have lost a loved one.
Rev. Leslie Simmonson, Chaplin with VNA Care New England will suggest some techniques to help you make it through. The program will be held on November 9th at 1pm. Call Linda to reserve your space at 463-3474.

Smarter Living
This is a great group where you can make new friends, have some fun, and hopefully learn something new. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 10:30 am in the ceramics room. On Thursday, November 9th, Marge Angilly of the Alzheimers Association will join us to present a program called "Maintain Your Brain". I'm sure we'll get some good tips for staying mentally sharp. There will be only one meeting in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Call Anne O'Hare at 463-3474 if you have any questions.

"Vets Voice"
Our Veterans will resume their monthly meetings in September.

Senior Health Insurance Program
Do you have questions about Medicare, Medicare supplements or the new Part D prescription coverage? Counselors are available on Friday mornings to provide individual counseling. To schedule an appointment, call West Bay Community Action at 732-4660, ext. 144, and ask for the SHIP program.

Education and Support Group for Abused Elders
If you are an elder who has been abused by an adult child, grandchild or other relative, there is FREE education and support available for you. Meets once a month during daytime hours. Call Anita at the Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center at 401-738-9700

RIPAE Questions?
Individuals and couples over 65 years of age and who are RI residents may be eligible for additional help toward the cost of prescriptions. RIPAE stands for Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly and helps with the cost of medications after your Medicare Part D is exhausted. The new guidelines are as follows:

$18,724 (single) $23,407 (couple) 60% discount
$23,505 (single) $29,383 (couple) 30% discount
$41,136 (single) $47,012 (couple) 15% discount

If you think you may be eligible for this program or have questions about how you can apply for it you should call Kim Pastore at 468-4500.

Another source of information in RI is:
The Point RI's Resource Place for Seniors and Adults with Disabilities at 462-4444.

RI Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
has an equipment Lending Program if you need equipment while yours is being repaird or as a trial prior to your purchase. The following equipment are available for loan:

• FM Personal Systems and accessories
• Induction Loops and accessories
• TTY's
• Closed Caption Decoder

For more information call 222-1204 Voice or 222-1205 TTY.