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Time is running out: 3 key items to consider before the Dec. 7 Medicare enrollment deadline
by Rick Beavin, Desert Pacific Medicare President, Humana
In a year filled with unforeseen challenges and important decisions, people with Medicare have through Monday, Dec. 7 to select their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage for 2021. To ensure you have the right Medicare plan for you in place come January 1 of next year, it’s important to focus on these three key topics:
Navigating plan options during COVID-19 – Traditionally, the annual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan open enrollment period offers opportunities for in-person educational events and one-on-one meetings with licensed sales agents. This year, you can safely access the resources you need to choose the best plan for you, online or by phone. The Medicare Plan Finder is a great place to start.
Doctors in network, prescription drugs covered? As you connect with a licensed sales agent or research information online, remember to confirm which doctors and hospitals are in a plan’s network. If you have a preferred physician or health care facility, a licensed health insurance agent can help you see if a specific doctor or hospital is in a plan’s network and taking new patients.
Although Original Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs, many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, or you can sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug Plan separately. A licensed sales agent can look up the medications you would like covered and help you estimate what the cost of each drug would be on a plan.
New, innovative benefits – Beyond vision, hearing and dental coverage, if you aim to become healthier, look for fitness program benefits as many Medicare Advantage plans include them. If you are comfortable using technology, access to virtual doctor visits is broadly available and enables you to seek care through your phone or computer, without having to leave home. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer benefits to help address the COVID-19 pandemic including offering home-delivered meals for members with a COVID diagnosis.
As we approach the Dec. 7 Medicare annual enrollment deadline, remember you’re not alone. Key resources are available including licensed sales agents and websites such as medicare.gov and www.humana.com/medicare. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (or TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call Humana at 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time seven days a week.
Vol. 14, No. 05 – Dec 2 – Dec 15, 2020 – Mailbox
Ventura Breeze
When watching expert speakers on TV you can tell how intelligent they are by how many books are shown behind them. The fewer the number of books the less intelligent they are. Unless, of course they hire Rent A Book to bring bookshelves full of books to their office or home for the shoot.
Larry Master Ojai
Editor:
I didn’t write this (got from CNN)but I think it is important to read.
Although the Aragonez family is still healing after a COVID-19 outbreak, they took the time to make a public service announcement warning against large family gatherings. It’s tradition for many families to gather during Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. But with the coronavirus global pandemic, those gatherings could turn Thanksgiving dinner into a superspreader event.
The Aragonez family is now living with the consequences of a large family gathering November 1; 15 members of the Arlington, Texas-based Aragonez family have since tested positive for the coronavirus. All of the 12 people who were at the get-together tested positive for COVID-19, Alexa Aragonez said — four lived at the house and eight were visiting. She said those family members then infected another three, bringing the total to 15.
Diane Brown
Hello Sheldon:
I noted the police report on the police involved shooting at Harbor and Seaward earlier this month. The Ventura P D has released a detailed video of the shooting. The video takes the viewer directly in front of the arresting officer who had to shoot the perp after the perp began shooting at the officer.
You may begin receiving hate message or mail because you printed the report, to those you can send them this YouTube link, Ventura Police stop armed Man.
This type of public transparency should be offered to all cities across the US, but for some it will do no good.
Bravo Ventura Police Department.
Michael Gordon
Michael: Can’t hate the messenger we only reported it not make it up.
Breeze
Just wanted to say thank you for publishing my letter (regarding metastatic breast cancer). I’m hoping the right people will see it and make it happen next October!!
Marissa Holzer
Economics and politics are the governing powers of life today, and that’s why everything is screwy.
~ Joseph Campbell
Vol. 14, No. 05 – Dec 2 – Dec 15, 2020 – Opinion/Editorial
∙ The Ventura City Council has delayed adopting the ordinance allowing commercial cannabis businesses in Ventura due to concerns about the proximity of such establishments to residences, libraries, parks and schools. The council also delayed adopting a resolution that would have established the maximum number of cannabis businesses in the city.
The resolution would have established 1,000-foot buffer zones from the businesses to so-called “sensitive uses” such as schools and daycare and youth centers.
Even though City staff recommended the council takes action at its meeting, the Council didn’t rule because it wants another 1,000-foot buffer zone between the businesses to parks with playgrounds. The council also wants the 1,000-foot buffer zone from the businesses to schools to include Ventura College. I hope that they can agree on a final ordinance soon.
∙ Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin stated that an outdoor dining ban is not coming to Ventura County as they are now in LA County, which allows for only restaurant takeout and delivery for three weeks. “We do not currently have plans to do that,” Levin said. “It’s not clear that outdoor dining is contributing to the COVID numbers here in Ventura County. We are watching that but we don’t have evidence at this time to support that.” I certainly hope closures aren’t mandated as it would be the end for many mom and pop restaurants in Ventura who have been struggling to just keep open.
∙ Voters in Oregon have made it the first state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of street drugs such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamine. The initiative allows people arrested for possessing small amounts of drugs to avoid possible jail time by paying a $100 fine and attending an addiction recovery program funded by revenue from legalized marijuana. I think this is a great start, and because Oregon is the first state to do this it will be used as a litmus test for other states to evaluate its effectiveness. I do not believe users of small amounts of illegal drugs should be jailed.
∙ A Superior Court judge has ordered Los Angeles to approve a 577-unit residential project planned in South LA stating its previous decision rejecting the project violated state housing law. Further stating that the decision was too vague and would not comply with the state Housing Accountability Act which bars cities from rejecting residential projects that comply with planning and zoning rules unless there is an unavoidable threat to public health and safety. I mention this because even though there might be opposition to some developments in Ventura, the city cannot stop projects being built only because they are not supported by the community if they comply with current zoning for the property.
∙ Mail-in ballots have proven to work very well in California as it has in the five states that have used only mail in voting. California should continue to use this system in future elections making it much easier to vote, especially for the very elderly and handicapped. There are plenty of protections against fraudulent voting. And even though Trump and some Republicans feel that it doesn’t work, look at all of the Republicans that were voted for in California and other states. It certainly doesn’t favor one party over the other.
∙ The Third Amendment to the United States Constitution places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent, forbidding the practice in peacetime. The amendment is a response to the Quartering Acts passed by the British parliament during the buildup to the American Revolutionary War, which had allowed the British Army to lodge soldiers in private residences. Therefore, if soldiers show up at your house demanding to stay, you don’t need to let them.
∙ At the center of our galaxy there is a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A that could suck us in. It has a mass roughly 4 million times that of our sun. And, it turns out, scientists have discovered that we’re 2,000 light-years closer to Sagittarius A* than we thought. I don’t think we need to worry quite yet.
∙ Representing the Trump campaign in its efforts to prevent Pennsylvania from certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in that state (it failed), former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared in federal court for the first time in 30 years. It was a disaster for Giuliani. He struggled to articulate what exactly was the basis of Trump’s legal claims. He came across as an old over the hill comedian with really bad material and not a qualified attorney.
President Trump claimed that President-elect Joe Biden must prove that the votes he received in the presidential election were not “illegally obtained” in order to enter the White House — the latest sign that Trump is not giving up his efforts to challenge the result.
Trump tweeted that Biden can only enter the White House as president if he can prove that his “ridiculous 80,000,000 votes were not fraudulently or illegally obtained. When you see what happened in Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia & Milwaukee, massive voter fraud, he’s got a big unsolvable problem!”
“We have to turn the election over, because there’s no doubt we have all the evidence, we have all the affidavits, we have everything,” he said, providing no evidence of his various allegations. “All we need is to have some judge listen to it properly without having a political opinion or having another kind of a problem, because we have everything and, by the way, the evidence is pouring in now as we speak.”
Recently Trump took reporters’ questions for the first time since November 3 and said, “If the media were honest and big tech was fair this wouldn’t even be a contest and I would have won by a tremendous amount. And I did win by a tremendous amount, but it hasn’t been reported yet.”
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had harsh words for President Trump’s legal team as it pursues its increasingly quixotic quest to overturn the November election. “Quite frankly, the conduct of the president’s legal team has been a national embarrassment,” Christie said on ABC’s “This Week.”
The Trump administration advanced its plans to cut federal regulation protections for birds despite criticisms from scientists and former federal officials that the move will likely be severely detrimental to the U.S. bird population.
Trump’s push to overturn the election results suffered another in a series of defeats (this time in Wisconsin). Officials in the state’s most populous county announced that a recount had added to President-elect Joe Biden’s lead. The Trump campaign (donors) paid the Wisconsin Elections Commission a fee of $3 million to proceed with recounts in Milwaukee and Dane counties. They didn’t get their money’s worth.
Vol. 14, No. 05 – Dec 2 – Dec 15, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter
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Tuesday |
9:30pm, while on patrol in Rescue B-17, observed 5 kayaks engaged in hoop netting in the South Jetty rip current. Issued safety warning for the hazard area. |
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Wednes |
10:35am, during patrol, observed several unattended hoop nets in the sandtrap. Officers found the owners and issued warning for the violation. |
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Thursday |
8:45am, while on patrol in Rescue B-17, officers observed then pulled trash that had come from the barranca. Usually trash and other debris come down the barranca during the first rain of the season and any significant rain event. The amount of trash pulled from the water was enough to request a rollout dumpster. |
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Friday |
8:25pm, while on patrol in Rescue B-17, observed several fishermen hoop netting in illegal areas, including the main channel. Warnings were issued along with safety inspections of vessels. Instructions for legal fishing areas were given |
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Saturday |
1:03pm, while on patrol in the truck, contacted by an individual who had a dead battery. Officers were able to successfully jumpstart the vehicle. .
6:15pm, received a report of a female transient setting up camp in the restrooms. Officers responded, assisted Dockmaster with removing belongings and transient |
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Sunday |
7:50pm, contacting an RV at the launch ramp, a habitual camper there and warning that there is no overnight camping at the launch ramp. |
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Monday |
12:33pm, while preparing weather observations for NWS, observed 94-degree heat reading in the operations center. 10 mins later after the East wind switched, a 14-degree switch in temperature occurred. |
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Tuesday |
10:50am, dispatched to check the wellness of an unconscious person near VIM. Officers responded with VPD/VFD and found the individual under the influence. Later in the day, the patient fell off his boat. He was rescued from the water and given to his girlfriend for supervision and welfare. |
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Wednes |
3:30pm, received report of a dead sea lion under a dock in VWM H-dock. Officers responded, found the sealion, removed it and towed it out to sea. |
| Sunday 11-22 |
1:30pm, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers were contacted by a Ventura Isle Marina tenant who was resuscitated by one of the officers on the boat. He conveyed his gratefulness for saving his life. |
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Monday |
9:20am, while on patrol, observed a poly fishing line floating near the entrance. Officers attempted to pull the hazard to navigation, but it appeared attached to a commercial fishing trap. A commercial fisherman was located nearby, and he was able to assist and pull up the trap and return it to the owner. |
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Tuesday |
3:30pm, Beach Hazard Assessment : observed 4-6ft steep angled Northwest swell with powerful longshore current moving downcoast. |
Prevent falls and fractures
A simple thing can change your life—like tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor. If you fall, you could break a bone, like thousands of older men and women do each year. For older people, a break can be the start of more serious problems, such as a trip to the hospital, injury, or even disability.
If you or an older person you know has fallen, you’re not alone. More than one in three people age 65 years or older falls each year. The risk of falling—and fall-related problems—rises with age.
The fear of falling becomes more common as people age, even among those who haven’t fallen. It may lead older people to avoid activities such as walking, shopping, or taking part in social activities.
But don’t let a fear of falling keep you from being active. Overcoming this fear can help you stay active, maintain your physical health, and prevent future falls. Doing things like getting together with friends, gardening, walking, or going to the local senior center helps you stay healthy. The good news is, there are simple ways to prevent most falls.
Many things can cause a fall. Your eyesight, hearing, and reflexes might not be as sharp as they were when you were younger. Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance. Some medicines can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy, making you more likely to fall. Other causes include safety hazards in the home or community environment.
Scientists have linked several personal risk factors to falling, including muscle weakness, problems with balance and gait, and blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down or sitting (called postural hypotension). Foot problems that cause pain and unsafe footwear, like backless shoes or high heels, can also increase your risk of falling.
Confusion can sometimes lead to falls. For example, if you wake up in an unfamiliar environment, you might feel unsure of where you are. If you feel confused, wait for your mind to clear or until someone comes to help you before trying to get up and walk around.
Some medications can increase a person’s risk of falling because they cause side effects like dizziness or confusion. The more medications you take, the more likely you are to fall.
If you take care of your overall health, you may be able to lower your chances of falling. Most of the time, falls and accidents don’t “just happen.”
Stay physically active. Plan an exercise program that is right for you. Regular exercise improves muscles and makes you stronger. It also helps keep your joints, tendons, and ligaments flexible. Mild weight-bearing activities, such as walking or climbing stairs, may slow bone loss from osteoporosis.
Have your eyes and hearing tested. Even small changes in sight and hearing may cause you to fall. When you get new eyeglasses or contact lenses, take time to get used to them. Always wear your glasses or contacts when you need them If you have a hearing aid, be sure it fits well and wear it.
Find out about the side effects of any medicine you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Vol. 14, No. 05 – Dec 2 – Dec 15, 2020 – Police Reports
by Cindy Summers
Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Narcotics Arrest
On November 13, at approximately 4:00 pm, members of the Ventura Police Department SCU unit conducted a search warrant as a result of a month-long investigation into narcotics sales. Narcotics detectives using investigative tools were able to identify the primary suspects as 32 year old Ventura resident Kylee Shane and 36 year old Ventura resident Blake Dutter.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives discovered that a large quantity of narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamines, and a large amount of currency.
As a result of the investigation, Blake Dutter and Kylee Shane were arrested for possession of narcotics for sales, transportation of narcotics, and conspiracy.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows both Dutter and Shane have previous arrests for narcotics sales and property related crimes. Dutter was out on bail for a narcotics sales arrest, and Shane had an arrest warrant for a narcotics sales case.
Stolen Vehicle Arrests
On November 26, at approximately 12:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department received information that a stolen vehicle was in the area of Harbor Blvd and Schooner Drive. Officers searched the area and located the vehicle near Harbor Blvd and San Jon Rd. Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified 41 year old Oxnard resident Liliana Reyes as the driver. The vehicle she was driving had been reported as stolen from the City of Oxnard earlier the same day. Reyes was arrested for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, as well as an existing arrest warrant for the same charge.
About an hour later, the Ventura Police Department received information that another stolen vehicle was being driven in the area of Mills Rd and Main Street in Ventura. Officers searched the area and located the vehicle, which had been reported stolen from the City of Oxnard on November 25, driving on Thompson Blvd near Five Points. When officers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, the driver, later identified as 24 year old Oxmard resident Jorge Peralta, failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. Peralta drove a circuitous route through a residential neighborhood at slow speeds. During the pursuit, he drove on the wrong side of the road, drove up onto the lawn of a residence, struck a tree, and rammed into a police car. Officers successfully deployed spike strips and disabled some of the vehicle’s tires. Peralta eventually stopped the car and tried to flee from officers on foot but was taken into custody as he tried to scale a fence. Peralta was arrested for felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, possession of stolen property, and a parole violation.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Liliana Ramirez Reyes (AKA Arlene Ramirez) has two previous convictions for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Jorge Peralta has been arrested 10 times since 2015 for various charges, including robbery, burglary, prowling, possession of a controlled substance, and giving false information to peace officer.
Do some type of physical activity
Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For most older adults, physical activities like brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weightlifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly.
Researchers are assessing the benefit of exercise to delay mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults and to improve brain function in older adults who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Older adults with MCI may be able to safely do more vigorous forms of exercise, similar to older adults without MCI, provided there are no other underlying health concerns.
Being active and getting exercise may help people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia feel better and can help them maintain a healthy weight and have regular toilet and sleep habits. If you are a caregiver, you can exercise together to make it more fun.
Flexibility exercises such as upper- and lower-body stretching and tai chi can help keep joints moving, relieve stiffness, and give you more freedom of movement for everyday activities.
Strengthening exercises, such as overhead arm raises, will help you maintain or add to your muscle strength to support and protect your joints.
Endurance exercises make the heart and arteries healthier and may lessen swelling in some joints. Try activities that don’t require a lot of weight on your joints, such as swimming and biking.
If you have arthritis, you may need to avoid some types of activity when joints are swollen or inflamed. If you have pain in a specific joint area, for example, you may need to focus on another area for a day or two.
For people with diabetes, exercise and physical activity can help manage the disease and help you stay healthy longer. Walking and other forms of daily exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. Set a goal to be more active most days of the week, and create a plan for being physically active that fits into your life and that you can follow. Your healthcare team can help.
Your heart keeps your body running. As you grow older, some changes in the heart and blood vessels are normal, but others are caused by disease. Choices you might make every day, such as eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, and aiming to be more physically active, can contribute to heart health. Inactive people are nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who are active.
Weight-bearing exercises, which force you to work against gravity, such as walking, jogging, or dancing three to four times a week, are best for building muscle and strengthening bones. Try some strengthening and balance exercises, too, to help avoid falls, which could cause a broken bone. Doing these exercises is good for bone health for people with osteoporosis and those who want to prevent it.Older woman working out
Most people living with chronic pain can exercise safely, and it can assist with pain management. In fact, being inactive can sometimes lead to a cycle of more pain and loss of function. Talk to your doctor about what exercises/activities might be right for you. Each type of exercise—endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility—has its own benefits, so a combination may be best.
City of Ventura launches winter weather response plan to help homeless
As Ventura enters this year’s winter weather season, the City has partnered with the River Community Church to launch a response plan to provide stay warm packs and temporary shelter to homeless persons during severe weather events, such as severe rain, wind or low temperatures.
Now through March 31, 2021, the City is accepting community donations to create stay warm packs for sharing with Ventura’s unhoused individuals during harsh weather events. Desired donations include rain ponchos, blankets, jackets, hand-warmers, socks, toiletries, snacks, tarps, and carrying bags for items.
“When serious winter weather is forecasted to impact our community, the City will work with local social service partners, the Downtown Ventura Ambassadors, and other local non-profits to provide outreach and support to our most vulnerable population,” said Meredith Hart, the City’s Safe and Clean Program Manager.
Residents wishing to donate items for the Stay Warm Packs can bring materials to the ARCH, a homeless shelter in the City of Ventura, located at 2323 Knoll Drive. Donations can be brought to the rear of the building and dropped off near the exterior sliding glass door. Monetary donations are also being accepted by mail through the River Community Church. Checks should be labeled “Winter Weather Response Plan” and mailed to 859 E. Santa Clara Street, Ventura, CA, 93001.
The City’s winter weather response plan also includes an emergency temporary shelter that can accommodate motel rooms for up to 20 individuals. Shelters will be activated at least 48 hours in advance when temperatures are projected to fall below 40 degrees or if weather projections show more than half an inch of rain overnight.
Priority will be given to homeless individuals who are 65 and older or live with chronic health conditions. All remaining motel rooms will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Individuals who receive a room must arrive at the River Community Church, located at 859 E. Santa Clara Street in Ventura, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the day of the winter weather response plan event. Those who are unable to secure a room will be provided with Stay Warm Packs.
The winter weather response plan will run from December 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.
To learn more about the winter weather response plan, please visit the City of Ventura’s Safe and Clean Program website or contact Meredith Hart, Safe and Clean Program Manager, at [email protected].
Visit Ventura Creates “Shop Ventura, Save Ventura”
The hard truth? Recent forecasts predict one in six Ventura retailers, and one out of two Ventura restaurants, won’t make it through the pandemic. But forecasts aren’t written in stone. And difficulties can be overcome. Ventura knows this firsthand. After the Thomas Fire in December of 2017, locals helped locals literally emerge from the ashes.
Now the COVID pandemic presents a longer-term challenge to overcome.
Visit Ventura created “Shop Ventura, Save Ventura” to do exactly that.
“As COVID continues to stretch on, so many businesses are fighting for survival,” says Visit Ventura President Marlyss Auster. ““We’ve always worked to support our community and do the next right thing. So we asked ourselves, ‘What can we do to turn the pessimistic forecasts around?’ And so, the birth of ‘Shop Ventura, Save Ventura.’”
It’s a straightforward name for a straightforward cause. Via social media, newsletters, posters in storefront windows, and good old fashioned (and effective) word of mouth, Visit Ventura is asking locals to shop at Ventura stores when they can. To eat at Ventura restaurants, or get take out, when they can. To use their own hard-earned dollars to help their hard-working local businesses.
“According to Totally Local Ventura County, for every $100 someone spends at a local retail business, an average of $68 returns to the local economy, versus $43 if they spend at, say, a national chain,” says Auster. “If everyone shifts their spending just 10% toward local, it can make a huge difference.”
For the Holidays, Visit Ventura is adding a creative twist to help local businesses through the pandemic. Now in its fifth year, Visit Ventura’s successful Elf Giveaway program will also give local businesses a financial shot in the arm. The program, which features a real Elf (why not believe?), offers Visit Ventura’s social media followers the chance to win prizes (each prize comes in twos; one for you, one for a friend) from local businesses every day through December and right up to Christmas. Prizes range from small to large, leading up to a five Grand Prizes given away just before Christmas Day. This year’s Grand Prizes include a trip for two to the Channel Islands, a guided kayak tour on Santa Cruz Island, a longboard hand shaped by the legendary Steve Walden of Walden Surfboards, and a hotel stay (for two) at the Ventura Beach Marriott and the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach.
The machinations of the program aren’t as important as the effect. Visit Ventura has some 200,000 followers; the Elf Giveaway brings local businesses center stage. In years past, among other boosts, Ventura businesses have gained an average of 200 followers by participating in the program.
“In any year, Visit Ventura’s Elf Giveaway has always been a great way for smaller Ventura businesses to boost their business in a competitive shopping season,” says Auster. “And the Elf also gives everyone a boost of joy. Now, with COVID, both those boosts are critical.”