We have been celebrating all March. Wisdom Steps kicked off the month with a walking/exercising contest to help us get in shape for the annual conference in June. There are five teams made up of four Elders. All participants earn points for walking, showing up for Wednesday Wisdom Steps, completing laps, and they earn extra points for participating in the weekly water aerobics or dance class.
The team with the most points each week receives a prize and the team with the most points at the end of the competition will win a lovely grand prize. So far Team 1 seems to be in the lead.
Eleven people attended the Medicine Talk with local pharmacist, Bob Sample, and two clinic nurses. We enjoyed a tasty soup meal and had Bob and the nurses check our medicines for age, interaction, and dosage. Bob spoke about exciting new medications for diabetes and arthritis.
Prizes were given out for the most medicines and the oldest. Doris Blank and Bill Meyers won these. Nursing intern Krysten Flett won the grand prize of a Wisdom Steps card. Miigwech to everyone who participated and especially to Bob and Elaine Sample and nurse Jennifer Sorenson for helping us on their day off and Carol Hackett for preparing the delicious potato soup.
Some of the families that came out to support the Elders at the St. Patrick’s Day bingo fundraiser. Some even spent their spring break from nursing school with us.
The Elders held their annual St. Patrick’s Day stew cook-off and meat bingo. We had a nice size crowd show up to support us. This year there were only seven stews but boy they were tasty! Missy Ullman won first place with her stew.
Ben Hackett jumped in to call bingo when our regular called and was taken sick. We played 20 games of bingo. Gene Boshey won the halftime ham; the cover all complete Easter ham dinner was won by “Bun” Melvin Gagnon and the $171, 50/50 was won by Wei Lani Likiaksa. A Chi Miigwech to everyone who volunteered and came out to support us. These funds will be used to help with Wisdom Steps conference costs.
Marjori Bottila from the Senior Linkage Line visited us on Tuesday, March 19. She did a session on Medicare enrollment and gave an evening presentation about the new Medicare cards and the potential for scams. New Medicare cards will be mailed out starting April of 2018. These cards have changed and will not have our Social Security numbers on them. We will each have a new, unique number.
Prizewinners Krysten Flett, Bill Meyers and Doris Blank at the Medicine Talk session.
Mailing these cards will take time, and we all will be receiving them at different times throughout 2018. So, with that said don’t be alarmed if you neighbor receives theirs and you don’t at the same time. It will be coming. Once you receive your new card, you should destroy your old one. As always safeguard your card. The new card will be paper. Paper cards save taxpayers money; they can be printed if you need to and are easier for providers to make copies.
Keep your new card with you and show it to your healthcare provider. These providers are aware there are new cards coming. They will ask for it. If you forget your new card your health care provider can look up your unique Medicare number online. If you have a Medicare Advantage card, you should still keep it and use it whenever you need care.
Stew cook off winner Missy Ullman receiving her winnings from her mother Carol Hackett, Elder Advisory Board vice chair.
You might also be asked to show your new Medicare card. Need help or questions about the new Medicare card you can call 1-800-633-4227.
The Grand Portage Elders wish everyone a wonderful spring and a joyous Easter!
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we will offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Grand Portage Elder Nutrition Program courtesy of Patty Winchell-Dahl.
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