by Richard Lieberman

In a recent City Council meeting the council approved a new ad-hoc committee designed to develop a senior strategic plan. The new committee will be managed by the Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships staff.

The strategic Planning Committee will consider where the organization is currently on senior issues, and what the committee wants to see happen in the next three to five years. This new committee’s goal is to establish a plan for how to achieve the goals they establish for the current and future of Ventura seniors. The committee will also identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and any potential threat to the strategic plan as it affects seniors in the city.

The council approved the appointment of six individuals to the Senior Strategic Planning Committee. The individuals approved by the council are Gregory Bourdreaux, Stanlee Cox, John Darling, Lynn Kipp, Suz Montgomery and William Nelson. The appointments will be based on an approximate term of six months or until the Senior Strategic Plan is developed. Once the plan is complete the committee will terminate.

Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships Director Nancy O’Connor welcomed the Committee and is ready to begin its work. A consultant will be selected to assist with the development of the senior strategic plans.

Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships staff will present to the City Council the proposed Senior Strategic Plan developed by the new committee for presentation and adoption before summer 2020.

When you’re enrolled in Medicare, you’ll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. If you’re automatically enrolled, you’ll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of getting disability benefits. Your Medicare card shows that you have Medicare health insurance. It shows whether you have Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance) or both, and it shows the date your coverage starts.

Be sure to carry your card with you when you’re away from home. Let your doctor, hospital, or other health care provider see your card when you need hospital, medical or other health services.

5 things to know about your Medicare card

Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number. This helps to protect your identity.

Your card is paper, which is easier for many providers to use and copy.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card is your main card for Medicare—you should still keep and use it whenever you need care. And, if you have a Medicare drug plan, be sure to keep that card as well. Even if you use one of these other cards, you also may be asked to show your Medicare card, so keep it with you.

Only give your Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

If you forget your card, you, your doctor or other health care provider may be able to look up your Medicare Number online.

Watch out for scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information.

Scam artists may try to get personal information, like your Medicare Number. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Learn more about the limited situations in which Medicare can call you.

How can I replace my Medicare card?

If you need to replace your card because it’s damaged or lost, sign in to your MyMedicare.gov account to print an official copy of your Medicare card. If you don’t have an account, visit MyMedicare.gov to create one.

If you need to replace your card because you think that someone else is using your number, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

How do I change my name or address?

Medicare uses the name and address you have on file with Social Security. To change your name and/or address, visit your online my Social Security account.

Medicare is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Social Security works with CMS by enrolling people in Medicare.

by Patty Jenkins

On Wednesday, October 9, from 12:30-2:30PM, the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is getting the jump on November’s National Caregiver Month by joining the National Alliance for Caregiving in “recognizing that the nearly 44 million family caregivers in the U.S. – nearly 20% of the U.S. adult population – provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those they care for.” In the first half of our meeting we will be sharing information for all types of Caregivers and their partners which will then be followed with a “half-round table” for members to share unique experiences, challenges and hopefully some solutions that can help us all on our daily journeys of navigating Parkinson‘s Disease .

Our meeting will begin with a brief presentation from Brenda Birdwell, Ventura County Family Consultant with Coast Caregiver Resources Center (CRCC) to inform us of the various short-term respite services and counseling services available to all Caregivers. Brenda will be followed by Blair Barker MPH, Care Services Director of the Camarillo Health Care District, Wellness and Caregiving. Blair’s presentation will cover the many services available for all Ventura County Caregivers and their partners at the Wellness and Caregiving Center in Camarillo, along with information about respite grants to help take care of you/the Caregiver and your care-partner at home. Blair hopes to help raise awareness of the challenges family caregivers of all types face, help find solutions, support, and also celebrate the efforts of all “family caregiver superheroes!”

During the second half of our meeting, we encourage all of our Parkinson’s Support Group members and their care-partners to join in our “half-round” discussion about how we all cope with the many and seemingly ever-changing aspects of Parkinson’s Disease.

Join us Wednesday at Ventura City Hall’s Community Meeting Room # 202; 501 Poli Street. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with those who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with any other organization or group. For more information and important detailed directions to our meetings, please call Patty at 805-766-6070.

by Lauren Popham, PhD

We weren’t surprised when more than half of women responding to a survey we conducted with Ipsos said they are worried about outliving their savings. Income is tied to lots of aspects of aging, but the way that plays out once you turn 60 is very different for men and women. One major reason: the gender pay gap.

Women are more likely to experience financial insecurity than men, and this discrepancy becomes even more pronounced later in life. Making less than their male coworkers means women have less money saved when they retired, and will draw less money from Social Security once they’re eligible. We’re left with sobering statistics like this from the Health and Retirement Study: half of women age 60 or older have household incomes below $39,600, yet the median income for men in the same age range is $55,000.

Despite entering retirement age at a disadvantage, women tend to live longer and face more out-of-pocket costs for things like medication each year. This longevity means that women’s limited income and assets have to be stretched even further than men’s. Older adults of color fare even worse. Around one in five older Black/African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women is in poverty, with an annual household income of just $12,490 for a one-person home.

So much of our work is focused on public benefits programs because they play a critical role in helping low-income older adults stay economically secure. Many eligible older adults miss out on these benefits because they are not aware of the programs or they do not know how to apply. Since 2010, the Center for Benefits Access at NCOA has helped over 368,000 older women through community-based organizations enroll in benefits to pay for basic expenses to meet their health needs.

Among these benefits are Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for food, Medicare Savings Programs to afford premiums, Part D Extra Help/Low Income Subsidy to afford prescription drug costs, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to pay heating and cooling bills. In addition, our online screening tool BenefitsCheckUp® (BCU) has connected an estimated 2.9 million women with benefits after they completed a screening. We know based on a recent evaluation that many eligible older adults who complete a screening on BCU go on to apply for and enroll in benefits.

Despite these concerns, the story of aging in America is hardly all doom and gloom. 61% of the seniors we surveyed are satisfied with their lives, and 59% expect to feel similarly in three years. That’s an important thing for everyone concerned about aging issues to remember. By working with today’s seniors and encouraging younger generations that the pay gap is an issue that affects us all, we can build a stronger movement to make aging well a reality for everyone.

The City of Ventura needs your input. City Council allocated Measure O funding to develop a Senior Strategic Plan. To start the process, two public forums will be held on Tuesday, October 1st to gather community input on senior services and needs in the City of Ventura.

Public Forum #1, Tuesday, October 1, 2019 11 am -12:30 pm at City Hall in the Community Meeting Room
Public Forum #2, Tuesday, October 1, 2019 6:30 pm – 8 pm at City Hall in the Community Meeting Room

City Hall is located at 501 Poli Street. The Community Meeting Room is located on the 2nd floor of the building in Room 202. Parking is in the rear of the building.

GreenPlay, LLC, a nationally known parks and recreation management consulting firm has been hired by the City of Ventura to develop a Senior Strategic Plan. During the week of September 30th GreenPlay will be hosting public forums, focus groups, and stakeholder meetings to gather valuable community input. GreenPlay will also be conducting a senior needs assessment survey throughout the month of October.

The Senior Strategic Plan will allow the City of Ventura to identify current and emerging senior needs, potential gaps in services, and partnership opportunities. In addition, the plan will develop a set of realistic goals for meeting senior needs with strategies and actionable steps for accomplishment.

If you have any questions regarding the Senior Strategic Plan, please contact Community Partnerships Manager, Emily Fox at [email protected].

On Sept. 13, The Lexington Assisted Living held a BBQ lunch to honor Ventura’s first responders. Enjoying the event were Ventura Chief of Police Ken Courney (on the right), fellow officers, residents of Lexington and Lexington Executive Director Eric Terrill.

5440 Ralston Street. Ventura, CA 93003(805) 644-6710

[email protected].

Ventura County Library READ Adult Literacy Program is now recruiting adult volunteer tutors who would like to help other adults improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. The next five-week tutor training series in Ventura will be starting in September.

The READ program trains adult volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading instruction for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. Ventura County Library is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program.

After completion of the five-week training, tutors will meet with their adult learners at one of the assigned tutoring sites. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone’s life, call (805) 677-7160.

In the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving typically involves new ways of connecting and interacting with the person with the disease. Join us for this 2-part series and hear from caregivers and professionals about resources, monitoring care and providing meaningful connection for the person with late-stage Alzheimer’s and their families.

Caregiving responsibilities often persist for many years – even decades. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias provide care for a longer time, on average, than caregivers of older adults with other conditions. Consequently, more than six in 10 (63 percent) of Alzheimer’s caregivers expect to continue in their care responsibilities for the next five years compared with less than half of caregivers of people without dementia (49 percent).

To address these issues, the Alzheimer’s Association will provide free 2-part educational workshop. Topics to be discussed include during the workshop are:

September 19: Approaches to the disease, Cognitive changes, activities, eating and physical changes.

October 17: Resources for care, monitoring care, legal plans, hospice and Palliative Care

The Alzheimer’s Association will be providing Living with Alzheimer’s – Parts 1 & 2 on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm. The course will be held at South Oxnard Senior Center on September 19th, and at the Palms at Bonaventura on October 17th. Call (800) 272-3900 to register in advance. Seating is limited.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the premier source of information and support for the five million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. Through its national network of chapters, it offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer’s-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers.

As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills may be necessary. The Alzheimer’s Association offers programs to help caregivers better understand and cope with the behaviors and personality changes that often accompany Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Take this opportunity to become an educated caregiver.

To find out about other dates and locations for classes in your area, call the Alzheimer’s Association at (805) 494-5200.

There is no doubt that Community Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) Centers for Family Health have made healthcare more accessible to residents throughout Ventura County. The Santa Rosa Health Center is no exception and has taken that accessibility to a new level with a pilot program that offers individuals living with dementia services that extend well beyond medical needs. Patients are now able to access a community-based dementia specialist during their visit to the Santa Rosa Center, all to help ease the stress and anxiety associated with a Dementia diagnosis.

Stemming from a grant to the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the 3-month pilot program began in June 2019 with one primary goal: to test the value of embedding community-based dementia specialists in a medical setting, to meet with patients and families and assist with any unmet needs related to their diagnosis. providing an integrated whole person approach for patients and family members who are trying to navigate the road from diagnosis to available treatments and programs.

CMH noted that their work with the Dementia Friendly Ventura County collaborative, which is led by theVCAAA, included feedback from the community that healthcare providers don’t always prepare families for the progression of Dementia, according to Bonnie Subira, CMH’s Manager for High Risk Case Management. “Giving access to community-based dementia specialists helps patients and family members begin processing what they’re dealing with and what nonclinical resources might be available.”

Joining CMH in their efforts is the Camarillo Health Care District (CHCD), which provides a Dementia specialist in the clinic setting that help address the larger Dementia needs.

The pilot program is the first of its kind, according to Subira. “It’s a groundbreaking concept,” she said. “This program creates the potential for a community partner to be part of the healthcare team. That has never been done on this level.”

She continued, “It’s a lot to wrap your mind around, the idea of a diagnosis of Dementia. This program provides an added level of comfort for the patients and their family.”

The Santa Rosa Health Center’s pilot program is just the start to a multi-agency collaborative effort to provide one-stop Dementia resource centers in cities throughout Ventura County.

For more information on the Santa Rosa Health Center, visit https://cfh.cmhshealth.org/locations/santarosa-health-center/. For more information on the Dementia Friendly Ventura County movement, visit

http://www.vcaaa.org/dfvc.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about a fraud.

Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary and/or was not ordered by a Medicare beneficiary’s treating physician.

Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries “free” screenings or cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits.

Beneficiaries who agree to genetic testing or verify personal or Medicare information may receive a cheek swab, an in-person screening or a testing kit in the mail, even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.

If Medicare denies the claim, the beneficiary could be responsible for the entire cost of the test, which could be thousands of dollars.

Protect Yourself

If a genetic testing kit is mailed to you, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.

Be suspicious of anyone who offers you “free” genetic testing and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.

A physician that you know and trust should assess your condition and approve any requests for genetic testing.

Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the HHS OIG Hotline.