Special Sections

By calling the number listed, your call will be directed to a third-party with licensed and certified Medicare agents, Van Berg Insurance Services; CA License #0G30664. For accommodation of persons with special needs at meetings, call (877) 833-4253 TTY: 711 Recently eligible or would like to learn more about Medicare? Attend one of our ONLINE, free, no-obligation seminars to understand your Medicare options. Visit our site to join an educational Medicare 101 Webinar canopy.vanbergins.com (877) 833-4253 TTY 711 Partners in Health about Medicare? Premium Hearing Healthcare Dr. Jeannine is the only board- certified audiologist in the Santa Cruz and Monterey area. She diagnoses and treats hearing loss and specializes in tinnitus. At Harmony Audiology, solutions are tailored to your needs and values with a focus on patient- centered care. www.harmonyaudiology.com (831) 854-2882 820 Bay Avenue, Suite 210 Capitola, CA 95010 JeanneAnne ("Jeannine") Ramacho-Talley, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-TM American Board of Audiology Certified Social Dancing for solos and couples Peggy Pollard, Teacher www.PeggyDance.weebly.com Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing In Class & On-line Dances & Lessons Waltz Tribe membership Grow your mind, body & soul Dance to music you love Sign up Now for up-coming Classes! Confused About Medicare? CAll TodAy for A No obligATioN CoNsulTATioN. 831-252-2256 TTY711 beth Powanda PowandaInsuranceagency.com Lic# oB80536 Licensed sales agent i can help. Learning about medicare can feel like tackling a big puzzle. How do you know you are making the right decisions about your health when it's so difficult to understand the basics? Let's meet one-on-one so I can learn about you, inform you of your opons, so you make the best decision for your individual health care needs. calling the number above will direct you to a licensed sales agent. not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government or Federal Medicare Program. Insurance related solicitaon. to the most frequently asked questions I receive. What Does Medicare Supplement Insurance Cover? Most people over 65 have Original Medicare to cover the bulk of their health care costs. Original Medicare consists of Parts A and B. However, Medicare A & B do not pay 100% of your Medicare approved expenses, nor does it cover Part D prescription drugs. Original Medicare is designed to cover most of your approved inpatient hospital health care costs (Part A) and about 80% of It's that time...continued from page 1 your approved outpatient costs (Part B) leaving you to pay the balance. Be- cause these out-of-pocket expenses can be significant, many people opt to buy a private Medigap insurance plan or enroll in a Medi- care Advantage plan that reduces these out-of-pocket expenses. When do I sign up for Medicare? If you are already taking Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. You can choose to turn down Part B, since it has a monthly cost; if you keep it, the cost will be deducted from Social Security if you already claimed benefits. For those who have not started Social Security, you will have to sign yourself up for Parts A and B. The seven-month initial enrollment period begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after your birthday month. To ensure coverage starts by the time you turn 65, sign up in the first three months. If you are still working and have health insurance through your employer (or if you're covered by your working spouse's employ- er coverage), you may be able to delay signing up for Medicare. But you will need to follow the rules and must sign up for Medicare within eight months of losing your em- ployer's coverage to avoid significant penalties when you do eventually enroll. Does Medicare come with a cost? Medicare is divided into parts. Part A, which pays for hospital services, does not have a premium if either you or your spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years. (Up to $458 per month if neither you nor your spouse paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years /40 quarters). Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient services. The monthly standard pre- mium for Part B in 2022 is $158.50. Your premium may be more than $158.50 if your reported income from 2020 was above $88,000 for an individual or $176,000 for couples. Part D, which covers prescription-drug costs, also has a monthly charge that varies depending on which plan you choose; the average Part D basic pre- mium in 2021 is about $30 a month, roughly the same as last year. In addition to premium costs, you'll also be subject to copayments, deductibles, and other out- of-pocket costs. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to me directly or attend one of my upcom- ing Medicare 101 Semi- nars at the Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center St. Santa Cruz, on the follow- ing dates and times: 10/27 6pm, 10/28 2pm, 11/10 10am & 1pm, 11/18 6pm, 11/30 2pm & 12/2 2pm. This is event is for educational purposes and no plan-specific benefits or details will be shared. For accommodation of persons with special needs at meetings, call 831-252- 2256 TTY711 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government or Federal Medicare Program. Insur- ance related solicitation. Over the past several months we have spent a lot of time discussing how older adults, individuals living with disability, and even family caregivers can help themselves or someone they are caring for reduce and hopefully eliminate any unnecessary risks for falls. However, even with extensive mit- igationmeasures in place, and even with an abun- dance of caution, falls can happen. Make no mistake though, the best address to cata- strophic falls is still to try and prevent them from ever happening in the first place. An ounce of pre- vention is worth a pound of cure, right? This is especially the case if we acknowledge that for many falls, there is no "cure" after the fact; the victims' lives are likely forever changed to some degree, and in some cases can lead to the sort of rap- id decline in other health and wellness markers that will continue to effect on-going quality of life. So, if we recognize that falls are a real possibil- ity, what could or even should you do if you find yourself on the floor or ground as a result of a fall? First, whether you are at home or somewhere else, a sudden fall can be jarring and frightening. If you do fall, it is important to stay as calm as possible. Take several deep breaths to try to relax. Remain still on the floor or ground for a few moments. This will help you get over the shock of falling. There is no saving grace in trying to get on your feet quickly; doing so will not erase a fall that has already happened, nor will you receive extra points for a quick and stylish recovery. Decide if you are hurt before getting up. Getting up too quickly or in the wrong way could make an injury worse. Check-in with yourself. Assess the condition your extremi- ties - - arms and legs, your head and neck, and even your hands and fingers, as they may have been subjected to the greatest impact from the force of the fall. Try to gently wiggle and flex these extremities; are you expe- riencing pain? Is there any numbness or bleeding? Check any areas that feel like they may be hurt, as well as those to which there may be no initial indication of injury. If there are no injuries and you think you can get up safely, slowly roll onto your side, starting the movement with your head and moving down your body toward your feet. Rest again while your body and blood pressure adjust. Slowly push up into a crawling position and crawl carefully on hands and knees to a sturdy chair or bench. Put your hands on the seat of the chair or bench and slide one foot forward so that it is flat on the floor or ground. Keep the other leg bent so the knee is on the floor. From this kneeling posi- tion, slowly rise and turn your body to sit in the chair. Pause or stop if you feel weakness, dizziness, or a significant degree of increased pain. Sit and catch your breath for a few minutes before doing anything else. If you are hurt or cannot get up on your own, ask someone for help or call 911. If you are alone, try to get into a comfortable position and wait for help to arrive. Keep yourself warm with a blanket or coat if there is one within reach. Carrying a mobile or portable phone with you as you move about your house could make it easier to call someone if you need assistance. A personal emergency response system (PERS), which lets you push a button on a special necklace or bracelet to call for help and that has been discussed in this space previously, is another option. If you don't have a PERS device or a phone nearby, start yelling for help. If you can't yell, grab some- thing nearby and use it to bang on the floor or on nearby furniture to make noise and attract attention. It is important to note that older adults with serious health conditions or limited mobility should always consult their doc- tor or physical therapist for advice on what to do in case of a fall in order to prevent further injury, as individual recommenda- tions can vary. While stay- ing fall free is what we'd all like to do, remember that if a fall does occur, do not panic, take your time, assess for injuries, call for help, and finally get seen by a health professional to make sure any bumps and bruises are not more serious than they might first seem. Sure, try to avoid falls but what to do if I fall anyways By Britt Bassoni, Seniors Council Falls Prevention Program

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