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Ocean County Office of
Senior Services
Call Us Today
1-732-929-2091 or 1-800-668-4899
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So Long Summer, Hello Fall. |
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A message from Ocean County Commissioner, Joseph H. Vicari |
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The Ocean County Office of Senior Services has had a very busy summer attending outreach events, health and community fairs and visiting adult communities engaging seniors, listening to their concerns and sharing invaluable information regarding the programs and services available to them. As the Commissioner Chairman for the Ocean County Office of Senior Services with over 40 years of public service, I have successfully advocated for programs and benefits needed for older adults to remain independent in their homes and communities. However, programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Property Tax Relief, Senior Gold and the like are only useful if our most vulnerable residents have access to them. The Office of Senior Services, under my leadership, remains committed to preserving these benefits and has made it a priority to bring information and access to these important programs and benefits directly to our seniors.
One of the primary concerns of older adults is the increasing cost of health care and prescription drugs. Confusion over Medicare plans and enticing Medicare Plan advertisements only add to the stress and, in some cases, the out of pocket costs incurred by older adults. I wanted to take this opportunity to remind our residents that unbiased Medicare counseling is available at no cost to beneficiaries. The Ocean County Office of Senior Services has experienced staff and volunteers that are certified State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors available to help seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries with the drug plan enrollment process and answer any questions. The department has also partnered with the Ocean County Library to schedule Medicare Open Enrollment events at local branches throughout the county.
Medicare Part D open enrollment period begins on October 15th and runs through December 7th. During this time, people with Medicare can sign up for a prescription drug plan (PDP) or switch their current Medicare Part D plan in order to have the best coverage beginning January of 2022.
To learn more about Medicare Open Enrollment events or schedule an appointment, resident can call 732-929-2091 or
1-800-668-4899 for additional information.
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Follow and Like Us!
Be sure to visit our Facebook page for updates, and information.
Click the Logo to visit our page.
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September is
Emergency Preparedness Month
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“Register Ready – New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters” allows New Jersey residents with disabilities or access and functional needs along with their families, friends, caregivers and associates an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies.
This will enable emergency responders to better plan and serve them in a disaster or other emergency.
The information collected here is confidential and will not be available to the public. The information will be held securely and only used for emergency response and planning.
Why should you register?
* To be notified by local officials when an evacuation has been ordered.
* IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!
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Helpful Links
To learn how people with access and functional needs can prepare for disasters:
Ways to stay informed
about disasters and
emergencies in NJ:
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Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:
- Make a plan.
- Build an emergency kit.
- Stay informed.
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Items For Your Home:
- Three days' supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat FOOD
- Three days' supply of WATER (a total of three gallons per family member)
- Battery-operated RADIO and extra batteries
- FLASHLIGHT and extra batteries
- One week's prescription MEDICATIONS
- FIRST AID KIT
- Personal TOILETRIES
- Non-electric CAN OPENER and UTENSILS
- SPECIAL NEEDS items:
- INFANT care items
- Items for ELDERLY family members
- Items for relatives with DISABILITIES
- CASH or TRAVELERS CHECKS
- Store important DOCUMENTS in a waterproof, safe location
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Get Ready!
Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15, 2021
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You can enroll in Medicare health and drug plans from
October 15 – December 7. Get ready for Medicare’s Open Enrollment with these 5 tips:
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Check your mail. You may get important notices from Medicare or Social Security. If you’re in a Medicare plan, you’ll get an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC). Note any 2022 changes to your health coverage or any Extra Help you may get to pay for prescription drugs. You may also get health plan marketing materials, like brochures, from insurance companies that offer Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Remember — plans aren’t allowed to call or come to your home without an invitation from you.
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Review your 2022 “Medicare & You” handbook. It has information about Medicare coverage, as well as Medicare plans in your area. If you get your handbook by mail and want to get your next copy electronically, choose to go paperless next fall.
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Think about your Medicare coverage needs for 2022. Carefully review your Medicare coverage materials during Medicare Open Enrollment. Note any changes in 2022 costs or benefits. Decide if your current Medicare coverage will meet your needs for the year ahead. If you like your current coverage and it’s still available for 2022, you don’t need to take any action.
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Preview 2022 health and prescription drug plans. Medicare Plan Finder makes it easy to compare coverage options and shop for health plans. For a personalized search, log in or create an account (if you have a Medicare Number) to create or access a list of your drugs, compare your current Medicare plan to others, and see prices based on any help you get with drug costs.
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Get personalized help in your community. At Senior Services we have staff that are certified State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors and there are additional counselors located throughout Ocean County. SHIP counselors are available to help seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries with the annual drug and health plan enrollment process and answer any questions.
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Special Part D Days and Medicare Part D Seminars are scheduled throughout the county,
call our office for details.
732-929-2091
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Top 5 Things To Know About In-Person Early Voting
1. WHAT IS IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING?
This new option enables all registered voters to cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a nine-day period prior to Election Day. You can now choose to vote, in person, when it’s most convenient for your schedule.
2. WHERE CAN I ACCESS IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING?
•No matter where you live in the county, you can vote your specific ballot at any of your county’s designated in-person early voting locations. • Find your county’s locations at Vote.NJ.Gov.
3. WHEN CAN I ACCESS IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING?
• In-person early voting locations will be open Saturday, October 23 through Sunday, October 31. • Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and
Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. No appointment necessary.
4. WHAT IF I ALWAYS VOTE BY MAIL, BUT NOW WANT TO VOTE EARLY, IN PERSON, INSTEAD?
• Check whether or not you are an active vote-by-mail voter at Vote.NJ.Gov, under “Am I Registered?” • If you are registered to vote by mail in the 2021 General Election, you must opt out, in order to cast a ballot in person on a machine at an early voting location. • To opt out, contact your County Clerk, listed below, by August 31.
5. CAN I STILL CHOOSE FROM OTHER VOTING OPTIONS?
Yes. You may select, instead, to: • Apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and return it one of the following ways... 1... Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. November 2 and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before November 8. 2... Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on November 2. Drop box locations can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov. 3... Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on November 2. County Election Officials’ contact information can be found at Vote.NJ.Gov. • Or, vote in person at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 2. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities. Go to Vote.NJ.Gov for your polling place, listed on the Polling Locations page.
NOTE: Vote-by-mail ballots CANNOT be returned to your polling place for this election.
Ocean County Election Offices County Clerk
732-929-2018 Board of Elections 732-929-2167
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What is the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement)? Does it actually freeze my taxes?
This property tax relief program does not actually freeze your taxes, but will reimburse you for any property tax increases you have once you're in the program. You will get the difference between your base year (first year of eligibility) property tax amount and the current year property tax amount, as long as the current year is higher than the base year and you met all other eligibility requirements.
What is the difference between a PTR-1 and PTR-2?
The PTR-1 is the application used by first-time applicants or for those who must re-establish themselves back into the Senior Freeze program. This form establishes your base year property tax amount, which is used to calculate the reimbursement going forward. You must meet the eligibility requirements for 2 consecutive years to establish a base year.
The PTR-2 is the application used by applicants already in the program, who have an established base year property tax amount.
What if I cannot make it to my tax collector's office to have the property tax verification form completed?
In lieu of sending a completed homeowners verification form, you may send in copies of the following proof of taxes due and paid:
- Property tax bill; and
- Cancelled checks or receipts showing the amount of property taxes paid;
or
- Form 1098 from your mortgage company.
Be sure to include copies for both tax years if completing Form PTR-1.
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RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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The Ocean County Residential Emergency Rental Assistance Program is a public relief program providing rent to County residents at risk of eviction because of COVID-19. Households in Ocean County who have individuals qualified for unemployment benefits, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are highly encouraged to apply. |
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Protect yourself from Medicare fraud.
Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card. Remember:
- Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare Number or other personal information unless you’ve given them permission in advance.
- Medicare will never call you to sell you anything.
- You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare Number. Don’t do it.
- Medicare will never visit you at your home.
- Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first.
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*IMPORTANT*
Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you, so if anyone asks you to share your Medicare Number or pay for access to the vaccine, you can bet it’s a scam.
Here’s what to know:
- You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
- You can’t pay to get early access to a vaccine.
- Don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or emails you promising access to the vaccine for a fee.
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CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
Helping you navigate your role as a family caregiver
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Family Caregiving
Light exercise, breathing techniques, even smiling can improve overall wellness
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How to Choose a Medical Alert System |
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Start by evaluating your loved ones’ specific needs and abilities, present and future. For example, if she has dementia, will she understand how to operate a system — or is something automatic, like a fall-detection device, more appropriate? Does he have a disorder that could hinder communication with a call center, like aphasia or hearing loss? Will limited fine motor skills make putting on a device or pushing a button too difficult?
Don't hesitate to switch to another service if it isn't a good fit — it could save a life.
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A caregiver—sometimes called an informal caregiver—is an unpaid individual (for example, a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks.
- About 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the last 12 months.
The role of caregiving is exceptionally important and can be overwhelming at times. Caregiver stress can result from physical, emotional, and financial strains.
At Ocean County Office of Senior Services we have trained specialists available to answer all your questions and help give guidance on programs and services available to you.
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Senior Services also produces an informative
Caregiver Resource Packet that gives a glance at the many options available.
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Compass 82
Director: Susan Marticek
Contact: 848-220-8282
A Message from Compass 82:
Disasters happen, but that is just where the story begins.
Our unique and comprehensive approach of educating, navigating, and advocating in impacted communities means we are a problem-solving force which no disaster can match.
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Meet Stella!
Stella has been working hard this year on becoming a therapy dog and has been getting lots of training!
Give her a follow at @stelladoodle82 to see more of her adventures with Compass 82 as they help our communities navigate through Disaster Fog and Disaster Recovery!
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Exercise
People benefit from regular physical exercise regardless of their age. But it is hard to get into a regular exercise routine and so very easy to skip it. Having a dog can be a great way to make walking a regular part of your permanent daily plans.
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The Facts About High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP, or hypertension) is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high.
Make changes that matter:
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PINEAPPLE BBQ BAKED CHICKEN FOIL PACKETS IN OVEN |
So easy and packed with tons of flavor. Moist and tender chicken breasts are cooked to perfection in foil packets with sweet pineapple and delicious veggies! |
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1027 Hooper Avenue
Bldg. 2, 1st Floor
Toms River, New Jersey,
US 08754
Phone 1-732-929-2091,
1-800-668-4899
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