Page 15 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - June 2020 - 27-06

Senior Times - June 2020
Page 15
Forks Senior Center Continues to Serve the Community During Shutdown
By: Luann Sommers, Executive Director, Forks Senior Center
Like most area businesses and organizations, the Forks Senior Center (FCS) has been closed due to the pandemic, but we
have not stopped working! Early on, FSC was contacted by the Albion/Homer United Way and offered funding to assist local older adults with emergency needs. We were awarded $1,000 and we’ve put those funds to work in our community! We have been working with our great local volunteers to assist people when needs are identified. They have
delivered food, masks, and other necessary items so seniors who are most at risk in our community are able to remain safe in their homes. We are also working closely with CareWell Services Southwest and Calhoun County Senior Services to meet any
system are forwarded to staff and taken care of from home. Three of our board members have been calling members of the Center to check on them every week and make sure they are doing well.
processed as needed.
We are thrilled to be able to
other identified needs for those in eastern Calhoun County.
The Center also has a Phone Reassurance Program where local older adults in the program receive calls on a regular basis. This program is still running during this time, and may be more important than ever! Our payroll, bills, and other banking or mail items continue to be
continue supporting older adults in easter Calhoun County even while FSC’s doors are closed! Don’t forget to wash your hands regularly, wear your mask if you absolutely have to go out, and practice social distancing. Stay safe!
Our Medicare Counselor Micki Ogilbee has continued
to take phone calls and follow
up with people over the phone. Messages left on FSC’s voicemail
If you have any questions or need assistance, leave a message for us at (517) 629-3842 and we will return your call as soon as possible.
CareWell HouseCalls Phone Reassurance Program
Volunteers Needed!
Help make weekly calls for seniors in Calhoun County to provide reassurance, wellness checks, and friendly conversation.
Call (269) 966-2450 to sign up•
My Medicare Matters—Phoning It In
By: Karen Courtney, CareWell Services MMAP Counselor, CareWell Services SW
Adapting to change is a
life skill most seniors have in their personal skill set. You
have learned many new things throughout your life, and are able to continue learning new things! MMAP counselors are learning to assist clients remotely, often over the phone. One way to help our counselors help you is by keeping track of your important financial documents. A great way to preserve your information,
and forth with email or texts, so you are sure how to do it.
especially if you know you
are bad at filing or retrieving paperwork, is to take a picture with your smart phone whenever you get important papers,
like Social Security income statements, or pension income statements.
help from a MMAP counselor to apply for benefits, they may need you to send copies of your paperwork in order to help
you while MMAP is “social distancing.”
Today's phones are powerful little computers – you don’t have to know how to do everything with them, as long as you can do some basic things like call, text, take a picture. You’ll be able to learn more as your confidence grows. You can learn new things, and while we’re all staying safe at home, there’s no better time to learn!
When you take a picture with your phone, you can email or text those documents so you can apply for Medicaid or other public assistance. If you need
If you need help learning how to use the camera function on your phone, ask a grandkid, check online for YouTube tutorials, or ask at the place where you bought your phone. Practice sending a picture back
PROMOTING HEALTH INDEPENDENCE CHOICE