The Sullivan County Office for the Aging has scheduled a Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Sullivan County Airport Terminal Lobby, 75 Co Rd 183A (Airport Rd.), Swan Lake, NY to gain input from older residents, baby boomers, and other interested parties on programs and services provided by the agency. The Public Hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration, a free light breakfast and health fair starts. The Office for the Aging provides such programs as home delivered meals and congregate meals, in-home services, assistance to informal caregivers, information and assistance, Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP), Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Sullivan NYCONNECTS, shopping bus and medical transportation. Information gathered at the public hearing will be used in the development of the Agency's Annual Plan for services which must be submitted to the New York State Office for the Aging by December 1, 2019.

Following the Public Hearing, Senior Safety Forum “Addictions Occur at Any Age” Addictions can directly impact an individual's physical, emotional and financial welfare.

Guest Speakers:

• Wendy E. Brown, Sullivan County Public Health Services

• Colleen Jones, Mid-Hudson Problem Gambling Resource Center

• Eric J. Chaboty, Sullivan County Sheriff's office

There will be lunch and door prizes (Must be present to win).

Senior Safety Day is Free! Walk-ins welcome. Call Office for the Aging at 845-807-0241 or Cornell Cooperative Extension at 845-292-6180. Email:sullivan@cornell.edu for information.

This is a co-partnered program between Sullivan County Office for the Aging of Sullivan County and Cornell Cooperative Extension is supported by a grant from the New York State Office for the Aging's Caregiver Program.

Medicare Annual Election Period (Formally known as Medicare Open Enrollment) October 15th-December 7th, 2019

Insurance companies selling Medicare private plans (which include Part D and Medicare Advantage plans) must follow certain rules when promoting their products. These rules are meant to prevent plans from presenting misleading information about a plan's costs or benefits. This is also known as marketing fraud.

Medicare private plans are allowed to conduct certain activities. For instance, companies can market their plans through direct mail, radio, television, and print advertisements. Plans can also send emails, but they must provide an opt-out option in the email for people who do not wish to receive them. Agents can also visit your home if you invite them for a marketing appointment.

Insurance agents cannot:

- Call you if you do not give them permission to do so

- Visit you in your home, nursing home, or other place of residence without your invitation

- Ask for your financial or personal information (like your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank information) if they call you

- Provide gifts or prizes worth more than $15 to encourage you to enroll. Gifts or prizes that are worth more than $15 must be made available to the general public, not just to people with Medicare

- Disregard federal and state consumer protection laws for telemarketing, the National Do-Not-Call registry, or do-not-call-again requests

- Market their plans at education events or in health care settings (except in common areas)

- Sell you life insurance or other non-health products at the same appointment (known as cross-selling), unless you request information about such products

- Compare their plan to another plan by name in advertising materials

- Use the term “Medicare-endorsed” or suggest that their plan is a preferred Medicare plan

- Plans can use Medicare in their names as long as it follows the plan name (for example, the Acme Medicare plan) and the usage does not suggest that Medicare endorses that particular plan above other Medicare plans

- Imply that they are calling on behalf of Medicare

If you feel a plan or agent has violated Medicare's marketing rules, you should save all documented proof, when available, such as an agent's business card, the plan's marketing materials, and your phone call records. Report the activity to 1-800-MEDICARE, your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 877-808-2468 or your local Office for the Aging at 1-845-807-0241.

Keep an eye out for more articles regarding the Medicare Annual Election Period. We look forward to assisting you.

For more information on programs and services available from the Sullivan County Office for the Aging call 845-807-0241.

Upcoming AARP Driver Safety Classes at the following locations: South Fallsburg Senior Center, Laurel Avenue, South Fallsburg, NY, Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Please Arrive at 8:45 am and No Walk-ins. To Register and for information call Sonny Smith at 434-8922 after 9 AM (Leave Message). The Fee is $20.00 for AARP members and $25.00 for Non Members. A course is instructed by a Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteer and is sponsored by the Sullivan County Office for the Aging & RSVP.

Upcoming Community Driver Safety Program, Inc., Defensive Driving Class - Callicoon Town Hall, 19 Legion Street, Jeffersonville, NY on Saturday, October 26, 2019, from 10 am to 4:30 pm (this allows for one hour for lunch). Call to register toll free at (877) 910-7843. Cost: Under 50 years old $25.00, Over 50 years old $30.00. Pre-Registration required. Web Page: communitydriversafetyprograms.com. Course is instructed by a Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteer and is sponsored by Community Driver Safety Programs, Inc., Callicoon Town Hall, and the Sullivan County Office for the Aging & RSVP.

Transportation Schedule for week of October 7 through October 11, 2019

For senior shopping bus transportation call 807-0241.

Monday: Town of Bethel, Smallwood, Cochecton, Bethel Senior Housing, and White Lake. (This bus always shops in Monticello) Neversink Bus-Neversink, Grahamsville, and Foxcroft Village. (This bus alternates weekly between Liberty and Monticello)

Tuesday: Fallsburg Bus- Woodridge, Mountaindale & South Fallsburg (This bus always shops in Monticello) Rockland Bus- Livingston Manor & Roscoe (This bus alternates weekly between Liberty and Monticello)

Wednesday: Liberty Bus - Liberty (This bus alternates weekly between Liberty and Monticello) Mamakating Bus - Summitville, Wurtsboro, Bloomingburg. (This bus always shops in Monticello) Thursday: Narrowsburg, Eldred, Barryville, Glen Spey, etc.* (This bus always shops in Monticello) *(and some surrounding areas, not all areas are included). Thompson Bus - All of Monticello and Mongaup Valley. (This bus always shops in Monticello)

Friday: Delaware Bus -Fremont, Callicoon, Hankins, Jeffersonville, etc.* (This bus always shops in Monticello) * (and some surrounding areas, not all areas are included). Liberty Village and Fallsburg Bus - Liberty Village Apts., Hurleyville, Loch Sheldrake, & Kiamesha Lake. (This bus always shops in Monticello)

Suggested Donation of $3.00 per round trip - Bus Donation. Seniors must call 24 hours in advance. Contact Office for the Aging at 845-807-0241. Medical Transportation, including wheelchair - For appointments please let the office know two weeks in advance. Suggested Donation of $10.00 per round trip for medical transportation. To make appointments call the Office for the Aging at 845-807-0241.

Senior Nutrition Sites Menu for week of October 7 through October 11, 2019

Monday, October 7, 2019

Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Sauce, Zucchini, Italian Bread, Chocolate Pudding

K: Lasagna

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Pork Chop, Gravy, Red Cabbage, Roasted Potatoes, Dinner Roll, Applesauce

K: Brisket

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Unstuffed Cabbage, Mashed Potatoes, Baby Carrots, Whole Wheat Bread, Orange

K: Stuffed Cabbage

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Meatloaf, Gravy, Egg Noodles, Spinach, Whole Wheat Bread, Pears

K: Meatloaf

Friday, October 11, 2019

Macaroni & Cheese, Stewed Tomatoes, Italian Vegetable Blend, Dinner Roll, Peaches

K: Manicotti

Decaf Tea, Coffee, 2% and Skim Milk served at all meals.

Menu items - Subject to change