All Posts in "Press Release"

AAA Federal Way and Tacoma Collecting Toiletry Donations

Keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and hot water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness and infection. But what would you do if you couldn’t afford soap or other basic toiletry items? It’s a problem that many with limited incomes face on any given day.

AAA’s 4th Annual Soap for Hope campaign collects your unused and unopened toiletry items and distributes them to persons in need via local shelters, food banks and other charitable organizations. Donations may be dropped off at the Donations may be dropped off at the AAA Tacoma office located at 1801 S. Union Ave. and the AAA Federal Way office located at 2122 S. 314th St., starting on November 1 and through the end of the year. Donations made at these offices will stay in the community to benefit Federal Way Community Caregiving Network and Nativity House.

New, full- and sample-size toiletry items, such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste and deodorant will be accepted at all AAA locations, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“I’m really proud to be a part of such an incredible community,” said Molly Gruse, manager of AAA’s office in Tacoma. “Our members and other customers really pitched in with our Soap for Hope drive, and with their help, we were able to provide thousands of toiletry items locally to those that need them the most.”

It’s easy to help. Look in your cabinets for toiletry items you never used. Maybe you have hotel shampoos, conditioners, lotions or soaps from your last trip. Or if you buy in bulk you many have extra disposable razors, bar soap, toothbrushes or toothpaste.

For more information including a complete list of AAA locations and charities, please visit (http://www.aaawa.com/about/newsroom/relations/soapforhope/index.asp).

Press Release by — November 15, 2011 in Everything Else
Hunting for a prescription drug plan is no game

By Kirk Larson
Social Security Western Washington Public Affairs Specialist

It’s that time of year again.

“Open season” is right around the corner for the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Hunting down the best plan for you is no game. Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries, and current beneficiaries who are considering changes to their Medicare Part D plan, should mark their calendars for October 15. The “open season” will run from October 15 to December 7.

The Medicare Part D prescription drug program is available to all Medicare beneficiaries to help with the costs of medications. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and participants pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage.

While all Medicare beneficiaries can participate in the prescription drug program, some people with limited income and resources also are eligible for “Extra Help” to pay for monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The Extra Help is worth about $4,000 a year.

To figure out whether you are eligible for the Extra Help, Social Security needs to know your income and the value of any savings, investments, and real estate (other than the home you live in). To qualify, you must be receiving Medicare and have:

  • Income not over $16,335 for an individual or $22,065 for a married couple living together. Even if your annual income is higher, you still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. Some examples where your income may be higher include if you or your spouse:

—Support other family members who live with you;

—Have earnings from work; or

—Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and

  •  Resources not over $12,640 for an individual or $25,260 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. We do not count your house or car as resources.

 You can complete an easy-to-use online application for Extra Help at www.socialsecurity.gov. Go to the Medicare tab on the top of the page. Then go to “Apply For Extra Help With Medicare Prescription Plan Costs.” To apply for the Extra Help by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020).

And if you would like more information about the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program itself, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

So this open season (October 15 to December 7), after you track down the perfect prescription drug plan for you, hunt for something that could put about $4,000 in your pocket — bag the best Medicare prescription drug plan for you and see if you qualify for the Extra Help through Social Security.

 

Press Release by — November 15, 2011 in Everything Else

Alzheimer’s knows no boundaries. Any adult can be diagnosed. One in 8 Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly half of Americans aged 85 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Its prevalence is growing rapidly.

“Generation Alzheimer’s: The Boomer Future” will explore the growth of Alzheimer’s on the Baby Boom generation, those born between 1946 and 1964. The presentation will also look at the impact it will have on our already overextended health and social services and will help attendees to better understand and plan for this new era of caregiving.

“Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources. “It is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. We also know that while death rates have declined for most major diseases, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have more than doubled. That’s why it is so important for people to learn as much as possible about the disease and the community resources available to help.”

There are three opportunities to see the presentation:

• Nov. 7, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Pierce County Annex (Main Conference Room), 2401 35th Street, Tacoma

• Nov. 8, 7-8 p.m., Soundview Building (Conference Room 1), 3602 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma

• Nov. 10, 12:10-12:50 p.m., County-City Building (7th floor Rainier Room), 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma

“Generation Alzheimer’s: The Boomer Future” is free, but RSVPs are requested by calling (253) 798-8787. This presentation is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington and the Pierce County Aging & Disability Resource Center. For more information call (253) 798-4600.

Press Release by — November 2, 2011 in Everything Else
Pierce County Library System is significantly reducing bookmobile service

Beginning January 2012, Pierce County Library System will significantly reduce its traditional bookmobile service to rural and remote areas. It will reduce the number of places the bookmobiles stopped by 11, from an average of 15 locations.

“Bookmobile service has served our communities well for 64 years,” said Neel Parikh, executive director of Pierce County Library. “We now have 17, soon to be 18 library buildings, and online access 24/7—which were not part of the Library when it started serving the county in 1946.”

The Library is stopping the bookmobile in places of low usage and retaining it in four areas that heavily use the bookmobile. The Explorer Kids’ Bookmobile will continue to provide service at schools and associated family community stops. Due to the isolation of Anderson Island and its high usage, the Library will continue to provide service at the Anderson Island Community Clubhouse.

Over time the number of people who used the bookmobile declined, as the Library System provided more libraries and online services. Currently, less than 1% of the Library’s 251,000 card holders use the bookmobiles. The 756 people most directly “Through the years, we continually reviewed how best to serve people in rural and remote areas and added and changed bookmobile stops and services,” said Parikh. “Reducing bookmobile service is a service delivery decision. We know that people have become increasingly mobile and our services are mobile, too—online.”

Significantly reducing the bookmobile is a $140,000 savings, which helps to lessen the Library’s $1.9 million shortfall for 2012. Decreasing the traditional bookmobile will reduce the hours of a driver and cut costs to buy books, materials, fuel and maintenance for the vehicles. Other staff from the traditional bookmobiles will be reassigned, mostly to the Fife Pierce County Library that will open in fall 2011.

In 2009, the Library conducted a survey of people living in outlying areas of the county and learned that two-thirds of the residents got their books and information from the Internet and were visiting Pierce County Libraries, while only 5 percent were using a bookmobile.

Only a few library systems in Washington State still offer a family bookmobile service. Most others stopped offering the service many years ago.

Press Release by — October 11, 2011 in Everything Else