Aging News You Can Use Logo
April 2015
Information and Resources to Help and to Share
This quarterly newsletter is for organizations that partner with MAAA's outreach team in offering informational presentations, health insurance counseling, Senior Surf Day classes, and other services and events! Use this resource to stay up-to-date on issues and trends influencing older adults in our communities. Share the information with your networks. Together, we can change aging in our communities.
  
Emily Justman, Chee Moua, and Marilyn Theesfeld
MAAA Outreach Team

Senior LinkAge Line is a partnership of the Minnesota Board on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging. 
ASK AN MAAA EXPERT
Answers to Your Medicare Questions and More
Q: What is being done to fight Medicare fraud and abuse?
  
A: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect in March 2011 and provided $350 million over a 10-year period to fight health care fraud. The ACA established teams of prosecutors and investigators to monitor and detect possible fraud. In its first 3 years, nearly $10.7 billion dollars were recovered.

To report suspected fraud or abuse, go to www.StopMedicareFraud.gov or call 1-800-447-8477. To learn more about this topic or host a presentation, contact
Chee at 651-917-4657 or [email protected].
A CLOSER LOOK
Featured Senior LinkAge Line Services

 

Health Insurance Counseling
MAAA provides health insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries. Certified Senior LinkAge Line specialists help consumers understand Medicare coverage, insurance options, ways to lower prescription costs, and learn about other resources. To speak with a specialist for objective information, call the Senior LinkAge Line Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm at 1-800-333-2433.
INDUSTRY PULSE
What's Happening in Aging
Many Seniors DO Want to Be Computer Savvy and Be Online
Outreach Assistant, Chee Moua, was recently featured in a Star Tribune article highlighting Senior Surf Day computer classes. These classes provide hands-on computer training for older adults who have little or no experience with computers. Attendees learn computer basics, how to navigate and search the Internet, and how to access websites like www.MinnesotaHelp.info. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 to locate a class near you.  

Learn More  

 

Senior Fraud Educational Videos Available in Multiple Languages

Recently, ECHO TV and Twin Cities Public Television co-produced educational videos about senior fraud in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. MAAA was one of several organizations that collaborated on this project, as noted by the Better Business Bureau during Consumer Protection Week

Learn More 

  

A Refreshed Website 

MAAA recently revamped its website: www.metroaging.org. Check it out to find aging and caregiver resources and meet your Outreach Team.

Learn More 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Our Partners and Volunteers
MAAA Phone Bank VolunteersPrior Lake Library
Prior Lake Library has partnered with MAAA since 2009 to host Senior Surf Day computer classes.

 

Attendees report the class has given them confidence to learn new computer skills on their own. The monthly classes are led by Senior LinkAge Line volunteers or staff. Librarian Hilary Toren comments, "It's been wonderful to be able to offer this class to seniors. It gives them a two-hour practice session where they can ask the volunteer teacher questions in a casual, non-threatening atmosphere. The teachers have all been very good." 

 

Thanks, Prior Lake Library! We appreciate this longstanding partnership with you!