Resources

Across Pennsylvania, more than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians are caring for older parents, spouses, or other loved ones, assisting them to live independently rather than in one of the Commonwealth’s long-term, institutional nursing homes, according to the PA Homecare Association.  Dedicated family and friends are providing $20 billion annually in uncompensated care allowing seniors to safely live at home and in their community.  The Association is making available “Secrets No One Told You About Family Caregiving,” a 48-page handbook featuring tips, tricks, and helpful hints for family members caring for a loved one. Obtain your copy by calling 1-800-382-1211.

You can also advance the level of care delivered through 59 free online video training courses (you can download the flyer) offered by the association. Click here to find resources for everything from caring for an Alzheimer’s victim to understanding the family dynamics within which you are functioning.

Fearless Caregiver Guide

Are you looking to get back into the workforce? Need some help?

The Senior Community Service Employment Program is looking to help you in your employment goals. This is a training program that is a stepping-stone to real employment.

General information about the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Eligibility:

An individual is eligible to be an SCSEP participant if he or she meets the following criteria:

• A participant must be 55 years of age or older.
• Participant must be a resident of the state where he or she is enrolled in the SCSEP.
• A participant’s annual family income must not be more than 125 percent of the established federal poverty income guidelines.
• A participant’s eligibility to work in the United States must be verified by Experience Works (Form I-9)
• Participants must be unemployed at the time of and during participation.
• Documentation of income, age, family size, and residence is required to verify eligibility. If the applicant is receiving enrollment preference as a veteran or spouse of a veteran, or as a person with a disability, supporting documentation is also required.

You can contact AARP SCSEP branch or contact the AAA office.

AARP Foundation - Tobyhanna, PA 
354 Memorial Blvd, Room 5 
Tobyhanna, PA 18466 
Phone: 570-972-0080

Employment opportunities with Pike County Area Agency on Aging. 
Our positions are: 

• Fiscal Technician
• Aging Care Manager Supervisor
• Aging Care Manager
• Aging Case Aide
• Administrative Assistant
• Clerk Typist
• Senior Center Operator
• Meal Delivery Driver
• Activities Director

Have you heard about the Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education?

The Office of Financial Education is a special program developed by Governor Edward G. Rendell in the Department of Banking that offers free classes, information, and resources to help adults and youth learn about managing money, budgeting, and other practical financial matters.

The information is free and presented in a user-friendly format.

Here is the home page that will link you to a variety of financial education topics and resources: www.moneysbestfriend.com

Help to get organized with worksheet and other financial organizers.

On www.todaysseniors.com, you will find printable financial organizers such as Our Family's Health History, Our Final Wishes, Insurance Organizer, among others that may help prepare for the future.

There is a school tax reduction due to the distribution of gambling proceeds to surrounding counties.

You must apply from January 1st to February 28th. Call the Pike County Tax Administration and Assessment office to find out what documents are needed to apply at:

Senator Casey's Fraud Prevention Resources

• Con artists force you to make decisions fast and may threaten you.
• Con artists disguise their real numbers, using fake caller I. D.
• Con artists sometimes pretend to be the government (e.g. IRS).
• Con artists pressure you not to call friends and family.
• Con artists try to get you to provide them personal information like your Social Security number, or account numbers.
• Before giving out your credit card number or money, ask a friend or family member about it!
• Ask them to send the offer it in the mail. If it is a scam, they will try to persuade you to do it now, it is only good for a short time type of statement.  DON'T BELIEVE IT! 
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and please call the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging's Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470

Help prevent fraud and avoid getting scammed.

Here are a few sites to check out to help yourself get educated about scams, fraud and nefarious business practices:

Fraud Prevention Checklist

US DOJ: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud

Guide to Preventing Home Improvement Fraud

Consumer Reports’ 9 Steps to Protect Against Credit Card Fraud

Avoid and Report Medicare Fraud


Check out consumer product reviews before you buy. Visit www.reviews.com. They have truth-seeking story-tellers to help you get the best bang for your buck.

The United States Senator Robert Casey has his monthly newsletter, sign up at (under contact drop down to Newsletter)  https://www.aging.senate.gov/

From U.S. Senator Robert Casey:  thank you for joining in the fight against scams. You can learn more about the IRS scam and additional scams from the Aging Committee's 2019 Fraud Bookhttps://www.aging.senate.gov/fraudbook/index.html

Senator Casey's fraud prevention tip cards.
Please click here to request copies.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of fraud or receive a suspicious call, please contact us at:
1-855-303-9470 or Click Here

Pennsylvania Department of Aging has many resources on financial exploitation. Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Aging website to learn more about financial exploitation.

1. Titling your real property, bank account or brokerage account in joint names with children or others.  This gives control over your asset to others and makes the asset liable for their debt and personal problems, such as divorce. 

Remedy: Do not create joint ownership and consult an attorney before considering doing so.

2. Giving a power of attorney granting broad powers to one person. 

Remedy: Name two persons who must act in concert and limit the powers to suit the situation.

3. Naming a single person as administrator of your probate estate or trust after your death.  A single administrator is certain to commit a breach of duty, even if it is done unintentionally.  

Remedy:  Name two administrators who watch over each other and provide checks and balances.

4. Failing to learn the basics of inheritance law.  Smart people make good decisions and protect their loved ones and themselves.  

Remedy: Educate yourself on inheritance laws and rules.

5. Not protecting your children from a previous marriage, if you remarry.  Step-children are at the top of the victims' list in inheritance cases.  

Remedy: Protect your children with a trust.  Consult an attorney early. 

6. Preparing a “do-it-yourself estate plan”.  These plans create problems for your survivors and often fail to carry out your last wishes.  

Remedy:  Consult an attorney.  The fee is small when compared to the costs, time and hardship resulting from an innocent but tragic mistake. 

Courtesy of Attorney Robert Adamski
Inheritance Hijackers:  Who Wants to Steal Your Inheritance and How to Protect It 

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Helpline - available toll-free at 800.272.3900 -
is a service dedicated to offering emotional support and coping strategies, information and community resources.  The Helpline is available to family and professional caregivers around the clock, 365 days a year and has translation services for more than 160 languages.  Calls are answered by staff  and specially trained volunteers.

The Helpline is an especially important resource for family caregivers.  A majority of individuals with Alzheimer’s are cared for at home. In fact in 2017, 15 million caregivers provided an estimated 18.2 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $259 billion.  In some cases these individuals are the sole caregivers and have no one to turn to for support. A lack of social support in caring for an individual with dementia can result in increased stress and frustration for caregivers.  The Alzheimer’s Association understands. We encourage caregivers to share their experiences with a Helpline Specialist to help reduce feelings of social isolation, depression, anxiety and interpersonal strain. 

The Helpline is not only for family and professional caregivers but also for those who have a dementia diagnosis or who are simply concerned about themselves or someone they love. Helpline Specialists have a great deal of knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and can talk about coping strategies and community and Chapter resources - in addition to providing emotional support.

How to responsibly dispose of your expired and unused medications:

Dump all pills and patches into a Ziploc bag. Bottles are not accepted for disposal.

Types of drugs that are accepted for disposal:

• Prescription or non-prescription pills
• Vitamins
• Prescription patches
• Pet medications
• Samples

The following are not accepted for disposal:

• Liquids
• Ointments
• Lotions
• Sprays
• Injectables
• Inhalers
• Needles

Please bring bagged medications to the Pike County Sheriff's Office for safe disposal.

Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 4:15 pm.

Hearing Loss Individuals May Qualify to Receive a ClearCaptions Phone at No Cost

Individuals experiencing any form of hearing loss may qualify to receive a ClearCaptions phone at no cost. ClearCaptions offers real-time phone captioning that allows a person to see every word said on the call.

ClearCaptions is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certified telephone captioning provider. The captioning service is paid for through Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a fund which established the Telecommunications Relay Service. There is no cost to qualified individuals whose hearing loss inhibits their phone use.

IP captioned telephone service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says. These captions are then sent to your phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally-administered fund.

For more information on the program, contact Andrea Koretz, Title IV ADA Specialist, 717-304-0756, andrea.koretz@clearcaptions.com, www.clearcaptions.com.

Do you have any questions about Disability Benefits?

Visit the Disability Benefits Blog and get access to some great information and resources that you might find helpful.

Feel free to inquire about specific conditions, age groups, or disability programs.

Remember, disability and illness can be financially stressful - particularly when an individual is no longer able to work.

If you have more question contact us with this form.

"The ICE Idea", is catching on and it is a very simple, yet important method of contact for you or a loved one in case of an emergency. 

As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is program the number of a contact person or persons and store the name as "ICE". 

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they did not know which numbers to call. 

He, therefore, thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name under which to file a "next of kin". 

Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In Case of Emergency (ICE)"  campaign. 

The idea is that you store the Word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and with it, enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case Of Emergency". 

In an emergency situation, Emergency Services personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number programmed under "ICE".

Office Hours for Transportation

Monday through Friday
From 7:30 am through 3:30 pm

New Transportation Telephone Numbers

      570-296-3408
      1-866-681-4947
Fax 570-296-3409

Robert Ruiz, Director of Transportation
Ray Groll, Transportation Manager


Visit the Pike County, PA Transportation page, for information on various transportation programs for Seniors.

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF92C048CF84

if you are interested in being informed follow this link and sign up to be notified of weather warnings in our area.

The American Red Cross will come to your home and install a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm at no charge.

Call American Red Cross office at 570-234-2705 for more information.

The Pennsylvania Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition (PBHAC) has launched a new website.

PBHAC is a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations concerned about the unmet mental health and substance abuse needs of older adults across the Commonwealth.

The new website www.olderpa.org will serve as a resource for providers, counties, consumers, family members and others who want information about behavioral health and older adults.

Consider joining the Coalition by clicking on “Join Now,” membership is free!

Technology for Long-Term Care

Technology for Long-Term Care is a free government funded resource containing information on hundreds of technology products to improve the quality of life and care for people in long-term care settings such as nursing homes, assisted living, boarding care, and adult day care programs.

For more information go to their website www.healthit.gov.

APPRISE recognizes the complexity of Medicare and offers free health insurance counseling to people with Medicare.  Trained staff and volunteers are now available to provide counseling over the phone due to the COVID – 19 restrictions.  We can assist people in completing the often-frustrating paperwork associated with Medicare and check to see if you are eligible to save on some costs.  We can also help you apply.

MEDICARE PUBLIC MEETING
   Your health needs can change from year to year, your health plan may change the benefits and costs, and there are new health plans and prescription drug coverage plans each year to choose from.

That’s why it’s important to review your Medicare choices every year. 
 During Open Enrollment, you can:

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare  Advantage Plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage, or vice versa.
• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or drop your Medicare Prescription Drug plan completely.

It is important to know your rights and responsibilities before making changes. We can help you review your options so you can choose the plans that best meet your needs.

Please call Christine Crossley to schedule your appointment,  570-775-5550 extension 1313.

More than 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma, and some have no idea they have it.  

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can cause permanent vision loss and blindness.  If you get a glaucoma test and find treatment early, you can protect your eyes from serious vision loss.  It's the perfect time to check your eye health and see if you're at high risk.  

You're at high risk for glaucoma if one of more of these applies to you: 
Medicare covers a glaucoma screening once every 12 months if you're at high risk.  Talk to your doctor or eye doctor for more information about scheduling a glaucoma test.

If you answered “yes” to these questions, the SHARE program may be just what you need.  SHARE (Shared Housing And Resource Exchange) is a new housing program being offered in Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties. Professional Housing Counselors screen and match people who have extra space in their homes with people seeking an affordable living situation.

If this sounds like a good idea for you or someone you know, please contact:

VA Announces Rollout and Application Process for New Veterans ID Card The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that the application process for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is now available for veterans — yet another action honoring their service. This has been mandated through legislation since 2015 to honor veterans, and today’s rollout of the ID card fulfills that overdue promise.

Only those veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card, which will provide proof of military service, and may be accepted by retailers in lieu of the standard DD-214 form to obtain promotional discounts and other services where offered to veterans.

The VIC provides a more portable and secure alternative for those who served the minimum obligated time in service, but did not meet the retirement or medical discharge threshold. Veterans who served in the armed forces, including the reserve components, and who have a discharge of honorable or general (under honorable conditions) can request a VIC.

To request a VIC, veterans must visit vets.gov and click on “Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card” on the bottom left of the page and sign in or create an account. Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov. A digital version of the VIC will be available online by mid-December.

The Pike County Veterans In-Reach Project (PVIP) informs Veterans in Pike County receiving or eligible for Medicare about their Medicare benefits. This program provides referral services, information and non-biased counseling free of charge regardless of whether or not the individuals qualify for or has benefits through the Veterans Administration. This program can also inform Veterans about free and low-cost Medicare services and programs including screenings, Medicare Savings Programs, extra help with prescriptions and PACE/PACENET (state-based pharmacy assistance programs).

For more information, please call the Pike County Veterans In-Reach project at 570-775-5550 ext. 1313.

Volunteers are always needed at all of our centers. We have a need for:

• Homebound meal delivery
• Assisting at a Senior Center
• Medical Transportation
• Shopping Assistance
• Friendly Caller/Visitor
• Clerical
• APPRISE-Pennsylvania offers a free health insurance counseling program (APPRISE) designed to help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare. Counselors are specially trained staff and volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, and Long-Term Care Insurance.
• Ombudsman - serves as an advocate for nursing home and personal care residents, to resolve problems with their quality of care

Senior Chat Program Flyer
Senior Chat Program Client Intake Form
RSVP Senior Chat Program Volunteer Job Description
Volunteer Confidentiality Statement 
Volunteer Guidelines
Volunteer Enrollment Form

The Elder Poverty Relief Act

The Elder Poverty Relief Act will help alleviate poverty among the elderly and the long-term Social
Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries by creating a new Poverty Relief Benefit.  The Poverty Relief Benefit will provide an additional $85 a month and will increase each year by roughly 4 percent.  The Poverty Relief Benefit targets the most vulnerable to slipping into poverty:

• Social Security beneficiaries age 82 or older and SSI recipients at the full retirement age (currently age 66, increasing to age 67)
• Social Security and SSI recipients who have received benefits for 20 years
• Social Security beneficiaries at the full retirement age with low monthly benefits (roughly $944 a month, adjusted annually)

If enacted, in 2019, almost 14 million people would receive the Poverty Relief Benefit.  SSA estimates that the enactment of the Poverty Relief Benefit would reduce poverty among seniors who received the benefit by almost 25 percent in 2030 which would lift 420,000 seniors out of poverty. Notably, the enactment of the Poverty Relief Benefit would not accelerate the depletion year of the Social Security trust funds.
Prevalence of Financial Hardship the Elderly
Social Security beneficiaries experience a diminished standard of living as they age and often slip into poverty.  This occurs because the Social Security benefit is indexed for wage growth only at the initial time of entitlement to benefits.  Monthly benefits increase with the cost of living adjustments (COLA) that are based on price inflation.  This puts Social Security beneficiaries at a disadvantage to current workers, whose standard of living improves as wage growth occurs.  The longer a beneficiary is entitled to Social Security, the more pronounced the disparity between wage growth indexed benefits and price-adjusted COLAs becomes.  As the value of the benefits is eroded and other retirement savings diminish, more and more seniors slip into poverty. 
  The problem is only going to worsen absent legislative action as approximately 10,000 Americans [3]  Furthermore, it is well-established that poverty rates increase with age.  For example, at age 80, the number of elderly living in poverty increased from close to 10% to between 12% and 19%, depending on the poverty measure used.[2] and, leading up to retirement, about 20% of all seniors have no money saved for retirement.[1]Even after accounting for Social Security benefits, close to 1 out of every 10 seniors lives in poverty attain age 65 each day.[4]   

[1] Census.gov, “Facts for Features: Older Americans Month: May 2017” n.p, 10 April 2017, Web, 20 July 2017
[2] Justice in Aging.org, ”Senior Poverty”, n.p, n.d, Web, 20 July 2017
[3] Cubanski, Juliette; Casillas, Giselle; Damico, Anthony.  Kff.org, “Poverty Among Seniors: An Updated Analysis of National and State Level Poverty Rates Under the Official and Supplemental Poverty Measure.” n.p, June 2015, Web, 20 July 2017.
[4] Justice in Aging.org, ”Senior Poverty”, n.p, n.d, Web, 20 July 2017
[1] Census.gov, “Facts for Features: Older Americans Month: May 2017” n.p, 10 April 2017, Web, 20 July 2017
[1] Justice in Aging.org, ”Senior Poverty”, n.p, n.d, Web, 20 July 2017
[1] Cubanski, Juliette; Casillas, Giselle; Damico, Anthony.  Kff.org, “Poverty Among Seniors: An Updated Analysis of National and State Level Poverty Rates Under the Official and Supplemental Poverty Measure.” n.p, June 2015, Web, 20 July 2017.
[1] Justice in Aging.org, ”Senior Poverty”, n.p, n.d, Web, 20 July 2017

https://aging.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100150662.1596.512&gen=1

Check these other sources on the Internet that are interesting and informative: (Note: all of these links will take you out of the Pike County AAA website)??

• AARP

Whether you are a member or not, you can find a lot of information for people 55 years and older. Visit www.aarp.org. 

• Answers to almost any question

Looking for solutions on everything from health care and parenting issues to travel, cooking, technology, hobbies and more, try visiting www.about.com.

• Calendar

Need a calendar or want to know the different time zones? Check this site out, www.timeanddate.com.

• Caring.com

Find Senior Care & Senior Living Options near you........
www.caring.com

• Cheap Gas

Looking for cheap gas nearby? Check out Gas Buddy at www.gasbuddy.com for cheap gas closest to your ZIP code.??

• Complaint

Click here to learn more on how and where to file a complaint.

• ?Help with Medicine Cost

Find help with the cost of medicines. www.needymeds.org

• How-To Tips

Need a little help with special projects from recipes to home improvement? Learn more at www.ehow.com??

• Internet

Eight things you did not know about the Internet - www.newscientist.com

• Jokes

As the old adage says, "laughter is the best medicine". Check out www.cleanjoke.com  for your daily dose of laughter.

• Medical World

What's new in the Medical World - www.medicalnewstoday.com  

• Music Playlist

You can sign up on Pandora to create your music playlist for free - www.pandora.com 

• NASA

This website demonstrates an interactive history exhibit from NASA -             www.wechoosethemoon.org.

• News Site

Mashable is the largest independent online news site dedicated to covering digital culture, social media, and technology. With more than 20 million unique monthly visitors, Mashable has one of the most engaged online news communities. Visit www.mashable.com. 

• Outer Space

What is the weather in Outer Space - www.spaceweather.com 

• PennWATCH

The Governor launched PennWATCH, an interactive website that allows Pennsylvanians to see exactly how their money is being spent.  www.pennwatch.pa.gov 

• ??Pennsylvania Health and Human Services Programs

??COMPASS is an online application for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs. Click on this link to visit COMPASS.

• Prescription Cost

Check the cost of prescription in your area - www.goodrx.com 

• Pet Care

A website for helping you take care of your pets - www.petcarerx.com??

• ??Popular Science

The latest in technology, science, gadgets, space, etc. - www.popsci.com

• Unclaimed Pensions

See if you or someone you know has an unclaimed pension. Check out the     U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's online directory??

• World Wonders

Using its Street View technology, Google "aims to bring to life the wonders of the modern and ancient world." Browse by continent or by themes --         archaeological sites, historic sites, places of worship, wonders of nature,         and more. From the initial images, you can scan the adjoining landscape in     all directions. To learn more, visit Google Arts and Culture.