News and Updates for September 2024

News & Updates

September 2024 | Volume 2, Issue 12

Upcoming Events

Over the upcoming weeks, our staff will be out and about at several community events. If you're there too, we hope you'll stop by to visit us at our table or booth. Here's a sampling from our outreach calendar:

Veterans Town Hall in Osterville on Thursday, September 19. A chance to learn more about the HERO act with Secretary of Veterans Services Jon Santiago.

55+ Barnstable Adult Community Safety Day on Wednesday, September 25.

3rd Annual Stand Down for Veterans on Friday, September 27.

AARP's Designing Across the Decades: Building Communities for Every Age on Wednesday, October 2.

Domestic Violence Resource Fair on Tuesday, October 8.

Senior Expo at Nantucket High School on October 19.

Your Voice Matters!

Registration Open Now

Take Action to Reduce Falls!

September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month and Elder Services is joining the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in encouraging you to take action to reduce your risk of falling.

Join EOEA in the 5th annual Step Challenge! Massachusetts’ statewide goal is to log 75 million Steps.

Preventing falls is possible. Here’s how it works - throughout the month of September, simply take a walk (or a run) in the name of falls prevention. You can use your own step counter or count each mile as 2,500 steps. Log your total steps using the link below. Family, friends, and pets are welcome to join. Preventing and reducing falls can be achieved (literally) with a few easy steps!

Log your steps here: https://app.keysurvey.com/f/41741483/3dc2/

Check out #MAsteps2preventfalls on social media to follow along and share your photos. Remember to wear yellow!

Fall Computer Classes Enrolling Now!

Call Denise Magnett at 508-258-2299 today to register for fall classes starting soon in Barnstable, Dennis and Falmouth. These free five and ten week classes teach the basics of how to operate a computer and navigate the internet in ways that can enrich one's life. Participants learn how to use email, search the internet for reliable information, access sources of entertainment, and connect to people, organizations and interests that matter to them. The Senior Planet curricula have been developed by Older Adults Technology Services over the past ten years to meet adults where they are and build on their unique learning styles. Participants gain a clear understanding of hardware and common software and the confidence to keep learning more. Learn more about our fall offerings at www.escci.org/seniorplanet. Class size limited to 12 and they do fill up--so sign up today!

Getting to Know Your Smartphone: A Senior Planet Lecture at Eastham Council on Aging.

Wednesday, September 25 at 10:30 AM.

This lecture is an introduction to the wonders of having a minicomputer at your fingertips. We'll learn about smartphone anatomy, the gestures necessary for use, what's on our home screen, and how to access the control panel. Bring your own phone and let's explore together!

Big Changes to Medicare Savings Program in Massachusetts!

By Steve Craffey

Great news for Medicare recipients in Massachusetts! Thanks to the tireless efforts of seniors advocating for themselves and others, the state has expanded its Medicare Savings Program (MSP), making it easier for more people to save on healthcare costs. The income limits have increased, so more people can qualify. If your monthly income is below $2,844 as a single person or below $3,853 as a married couple, you could now be eligible.

Another major win is the removal of asset limits, effective March 1, 2024. Now, you can have savings or other assets and still qualify for MSP. This opens doors for even more people to get the help they need.

The Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) are not insurance plans; they are programs run by MassHealth that can help pay some or all of your Medicare costs. There are 2 levels of benefits based on your income, both offer substantial savings.

If you qualify, MSP will pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium on your behalf so the $174.70 will no longer be deducted from your Social Security. Everyone will also automatically get Extra Help with prescription drug costs - limiting your prescription co-pays to $4.50 for generics and $11.20 for brand-name. Some beneficiaries will even get help with Medicare Part A and B deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments.

The elimination of the asset limit and expanded income limits mean more help for seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts, making healthcare more affordable. If you think you might qualify, or know someone who could benefit, check out