Wednesday, January 12th, 2022
The window is open for Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for a different Medicare Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and select a prescription drug plan (Part D). The enrollment period goes through March 31. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B’s Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) has certified counselors who can help you explore your options and enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that works ...
Continue ReadingTuesday, January 4th, 2022
There are several key factors to consider when you are contemplating a nursing home for yourself or a loved one. Covid Considerations The COVID pandemic has made it more challenging to judge a home—most nursing homes won’t allow walk-throughs and staff shortages are an unfortunate reality nationwide. But it is possible to do some preliminary research to learn whether a nursing home might be a good fit for you or your loved ...
Continue ReadingWednesday, December 15th, 2021
Seeing an older loved one after a long time apart can bring lots of joy, but it can also bring some unpleasant surprises. You might notice they're having more trouble caring for themselves. Perhaps the house isn’t as tidy as usual, or you notice that clothes haven’t been cleaned or changed in a while. Maybe the refrigerator and cupboards are close to empty or the bills have piled up. Here are ...
Continue ReadingWednesday, December 15th, 2021
If you are among the few Americans still using a medical alert device, smartphone, smart watch, tablet, or home security system that uses a 3G network, it’s time to upgrade. 3G Networks Being Retired in 2022 Next year, the main cell service providers —Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T— are retiring the 3G networks to make room for advanced network services, including 5G. That means your older medical alert device, phone, tablet, or other ...
Continue ReadingWednesday, December 1st, 2021
An Innovator and an Advocate Jim McGuire, who served as the Area Agency on Aging 1-B’s longtime director of Planning and Advocacy, is retiring this month after 36 years with the agency. With McGuire’s retirement, Michigan seniors are losing a true innovator and one of their staunchest advocates. In nearly four decades of work on behalf of older adults in Michigan, McGuire has spearheaded initiatives that have resulted in door-to-door bus service for ...
Continue ReadingWednesday, November 17th, 2021
When we think of the holidays, we often think of family traditions, special foods and family visits—all the things that make a holiday special. Unfortunately for family caregivers (those who are caring for an aging or chronically ill loved one), many of the things that make the holidays a special time can also make them challenging. Here are a few tips to make sure the holidays are fun, manageable and ...
Continue ReadingFriday, November 12th, 2021
The holiday season can be tough for many seniors in southeast Michigan and metro Detroit, so our Information and Assistance team has gathered a list resources available for seniors during Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season. We have divided the information according to each of the six counties we serve: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw. Find your county to connect with resources in your community. Please call ahead ...
Continue ReadingFriday, November 12th, 2021
A special message from the Oakland County Health Department for grandparents caring for infant grandchildren County Health Departments, including the Oakland County Health Division, are working to make sure everyone in a baby’s life (including grandparents) is aware of the dangers of unsafe sleep and ways to reduce the risk of SIDS. In Michigan a baby dies due to an unsafe sleep position or environment every 2-3 days, and in Oakland ...
Continue ReadingTuesday, September 28th, 2021
George Wojdacki calls himself the “piece of cheese at the end of the maze,” the guy you reach after bumping into walls trying to understand your Medicare benefits. Wojdacki, a certified Medicare counselor who volunteers with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B’s Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), has saved a lot of money for a lot of seniors who would otherwise ignore notices of changes in their benefits. Last year, he and ...
Continue ReadingThursday, September 2nd, 2021
Four Townhall Events Planned in Four Oakland County Communities--Attend In-person or Virtually The Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Healthy Aging Oakland County Ad Hoc Committee will be hosting four town halls throughout Oakland County, in partnership with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) to identify gaps in services for senior residents. Officials from the committee and AAA 1-B will provide a brief presentation on areas of need and opportunity ...
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