Accessibility Resource Center

January 17, 2014

SAVE THE DATE
Aging and Disability Forum III
May 16, 2014
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM 
Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, MA  

Open Enrollment for New Health

and Dental Insurance

Massachusetts residents can now apply for health and dental insurance during open enrollment: October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014.  There are new plans and new ways to get help paying for health insurance.  Commonwealth Care consumers must re-enroll in new coverage.

Locally, Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & the Islands is available to inform and assist individuals on how they may qualify for affordable health coverage and help with enrollment in new programs or re-enrollment in existing programs.  To set up an appointment or for more information contact CACCI at 508/771-1727 or walk in at 372 North St., Hyannis.

Individuals can also seek enrollment assistance online at MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765 for questions, help completing an application, and a list of Navigators in your area. 

Can I still change my Medicare Plan?

For those with a Medicare Advantage Plan:

           Between January 1 and February 14, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare, but you cannot switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan. If you drop your Medicare Advantage plan during this period, you will be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your Original Medicare coverage and your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after your enrollment. You may also add a supplement (Medigap) at this time.

For those with Prescription Advantage or getting "Extra Help" paying for prescription drugs:

          You can change your plan anytime during the year. Those with Prescription Advantage can do this only once each year. Those with "Extra Help" can change every month.

Trained SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone...on Medicare) volunteers can help you! They offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare. To schedule a SHINE appointment, call your local Senior Center. For other SHINE related matters, call 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636), then press or say 3.

CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES FORUM: 

Representatives from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), DPH (Dept. of Public Health), C&I EMT Services and local legislators will be on hand to inform us on the latest curriculums and education, pending legislation and team coordination regarding crisis intervention services.

DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 2014

TIME: 7 - 9:00 PM

Location: Hampton Inn, 99 Rt. 28, S. Yarmouth 

FAMILY WELLNESS CONFERENCE:

NAMI CC&I Board Member and new Board President, Dr. Peter Shea, along with other mental health organizations including Gosnold, Mashpee Public Schools, and Calmer Choice, is organizing a FREE spaghetti dinner & conference on family wellness scheduled for Tuesday evening, January 21, 2014, 5:30 - 7:00 PM at Mashpee High School.  Panel discussion: Binge Drinking, Substance Abuse and Mental Health.  For more information view flyer.

We've all heard the expression "Home Is Where the Heart Is," but for eniors staying in their own home - or "Aging in Place" - requires some planning and resources!

That's why the Orleans Citizens Forum is dedicating its next mini-forum on January 23, 2014, to a discussion on the community-based services, assistive technologies and home modifications available to help Seniors remain independent and comfortable in their own home.

Judi Wilson, Director of the Orleans Council on Aging, and Pat Zeiss, Membership Director & Vice President of Outreach for Nauset Neighbors, will speak to the reality that as we age, our homes can and often do present obstacles and what can be done to keep our homes the safe havens we love.

Please plan to attend on Thursday, January 23, 2014, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. at the Snow Library in Orleans.  All forums are free of charge.  Please join us and bring your neighbors and friends.  View flyer.

SAVE THE DATES ... for upcoming 2014 events sponsored by Hope Health:

• January 24: Fourth Annual Lighthouse Restaurant Benefit in memory of Hank Valdez
• March 28: Roll the Rock Bowling Tournament
• May 18: 22nd Annual Miles of Memories Walk to benefit Hope Dementia and Alzheimer's Services
• July 25: 27th Annual Evening by the Sea Auction
• August 17: New Balance Falmouth Road Race
• August 21 Celebrate Summer Memories Auction to benefit Hope Dementia and Alzheimer's Services
• September 14: The Last Gasp Bike, Boat 'n' Bake
• December 2014: 24th Annual Tree of Memories ceremonies to benefit Hope Hospice

Watch for more information on these and other events throughout the year.

Dementia Certificate Program I will be offered at the HopeHealth Hyannis office on January 27th and February 3rd from 12:30 - 4:30 PM.  This two-day afternoon program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.  Class includes 8 CE's for RNs, LPNs, CNAs, MSWs, LMHC, PCAs, Nursing Home Administrators and Activity Professionals.  Cost is $125.00, includes 8 CEs and materials.  Register by mail, fax, call 508/775-5656 or register online.

Dementia Certificate Program II will be offered at Mayflower Place, Yarmouth on February 11th from 12

To help persons with Parkinson's disease understand and manage the psychological effects of this neurological condition, John Allen, PhD, Health Psychologist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, will present Facing Fear: Strategies for Coping with Parkinson's Disease Anxiety, Thursday, February 6 at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, 311 Service Road in East Sandwich.  The free lecture will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the cafe.  Read more ...

To pre-register call Spaulding's Event Line at 508/833-4210.

Over the past weeks, ten children from the Barnstable Recreation Youth Services "Youth Helping Animals" program visited the New England Society for Abandoned Animals (NESAA) and supported them with a towel/blanket and pet items drive and also visited the satellite Adoption Center located at PetSmart in Hyannis as well as the NESAA Shelter in Centerville where they learned about how a shelter works.  This is an afterschool leadership program aimed at 6th and 7th graders who attend the Barnstable Intermediate School in Hyannis.  The program is organized by Barnstable Youth Services Coordinator Sally-Ann Imes.

Sign up for the next program is February 11, 2014.  Call 508/790-6345 ext. 109 for more information or to register.  Read more ...

Bob McKay has been hired to coordinate the Barnstable Public Schools Tower Grant which will look at strategic steps toward mental wellness & student success in Barnstable Public Schools.  The group is reaching out to those folks who would like to help and support parents and students regarding issues around emotional and behavioral health.  The first informational forum for parents and professionals was held on January 15, 2014 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.  Read more ...

For additional information, please contact Bob McKay; Barnstable Tower Grant Coordinator; McKay_Robert@barnstable.k12.ma.us

This 8 week class is offered by Calmer Choice and begins February 24, 2014, Mondays 3:30 - 5:30 PM at the MSPCC office in Hyannis.  Learn and apply: methods for reducing stress and improving health, how acceptance and compassion support mindfulness, ways to introduce mindfulness to children and clients, mindful communication skills.  Special rate for clinicians: $325, 22 CEU's available.  Read more ...

To find out more about this program contact Deborah Ennis at 508/432-3383 or visit www.healingtherapiescapecod.com.  To register go to http://calmerchoice.org/

You are invited to reserve a table at the next Family Fun Night on Friday, February 28th, 4-7:00 PM in the gym at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center.  Entertainment will be announced.  View flyer.

Email Sally-Ann Imes, M.Ed., Youth Services Coordinator, at sally-ann.imes@town.barnstable.ma.us or call 508/790-6345 ext. 109 if you wish to reserve a table or if you know of a youth rock band.

To celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month, Harbor Community Health Center, Hyannis and Ellen Jones Community Dental Center, Harwich are hosting Open Houses with free dental screenings for children under age 18 on March 1 and March 8.  The clinics are delighted by the receipt of additional support which will  allow them to offer FREE fluoride treatments as well - especially important here on the Cape where none of the towns derive the benefits of community water fluoridation.  There are only 25 slots open in each location, so please make appointments as soon as possible by calling Harbor Health Services at 508 778-5400.  View flyer.

If you are 55+ and want to return to work, call the Mature Workers Program at Elder Services to learn if you are income eligible for this Bridge Back to Work Program, an Elder Services paid internship program.

If you are a non-profit or governmental agency and would like to learn more about the opportunity to have the services of one of our interns, you may call to get more information about what the program can do for you.

For details, call 508-394-4630 and ask for the Mature Workers Program office.

Communicatehealth is working with the CDC to develop health information materials. We are looking for feedback on these materials from public health department staff, policymakers, and people who work for an organization that partners with CDC. If folks are interested, we'll ask for their email address to send them a unique link to the web survey. The survey shouldn't take longer than 20 minutes and is online and unmoderated, meaning participants can fill it out on their own, at a time that's convenient for them.

For questions contact Caroline Conena at cdcindex@communicatehealth.com or call 413-582-0425. 

Mass 211 is offering free, anonymous mental health screenings online.  This program is an an easy way for people to monitor their mental health and learn about local treatment options.  Although online screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight helping to identify if someone is exhibiting symptoms association with depression and other mood disorders and if they should seek help.  Read more ...

The purpose of the project is to improve access to information and the coordination and delivery of home based long term services and supports for residents of Cape Cod aged 18 and over who have chronic health conditions and disabilities, regardless of income.  The Navigator Pilot does not duplicate existing programs and services and is FREE.  To be connected to a Navigator call 508/957-7629.  Click to download program flyers for the community and for professionals.

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services website find.bchumanservices.net features on-line directories of health and human service resources. The Directories are a compilation of local resources organized around areas of critical need such as food, housing,  energy/fuel assistance, and services for seniors and people with disabilities. Find.bchumanservices.net is a valuable resource now available to Barnstable County residents and human service organizations. This new on-line tool is an effective and efficient way to make local information available on a 'simple to search' website. For more information view press release in its entirety.

If you believe your organization should be included in any of the new Directories or have any other feedback on how to improve the on-line directories, call the Department of Human Services at 508/375-6628.

• Do you provide health or human services on Cape Cod or the Islands?
• Does the public know what services you provide?
• Do people know how to access your services?
• Do you need assistance in finding services for your clients?  

The Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1) is available 24/7/365 to provide confidential counseling and referrals for Veterans and their families.  This is an integrated national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the Veterans Crisis Line, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among Veterans at risk of suicide and other mental health problems.  For more information about the Veterans Crisis Line please click here.

Over 800,000 people worldwide end their lives annually.  Seven to ten people -- parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren and close friends -- deeply feel the devastation of each loss.  That means that approximately 5 million "survivors" are left behind every year.  

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