The Senior Scene

Medicare is complex. Beneficiaries are faced with a wide range of options, many of which are very confusing. Medicare now offers beneficiaries two basic options – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage – and dozens of additional choices within each path. Knowing the differences and how to choose can save people hundreds or thousands of dollars each year.
“Your Medicare Choices” is an impartial, information-only event for current and future beneficiaries. It is offered by Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resource Center and SHIBA – Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors. The presentation offers a close look at the two basic options beneficiaries have and how to make the best choice.
The presentation will be held eight times in October:
• Oct 12 – 7:00 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Pt Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor
• Oct 13 – 12:10 p.m. at the County City Building 7th Floor, 930 S. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma
• Oct 14 – 7:00 p.m. at the Sumner Library, 1116 Fryar Ave, Sumner
• Oct 15 – 7:00 p.m. at the Graham Library, 9202 224th St E, Graham
• Oct 19 – 12:10 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma
• Oct 19 – 7:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Library, 6300 Wildaire Rd SW, Lakewood
• Oct 21 – 7:00 p.m. at the Soundview Building, 3602 Pacific Ave, S., Tacoma
• Oct 22 – 7:00 p.m. at the Summit Library, 5107 112th St E, Tacoma
“Medicare is 50 years old” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Manager of Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources. “In that time Medicare has changed to meet the changing healthcare landscape. And it continues to change today. That means that beneficiaries have to take a close look at which options best suit their needs. What worked last year may well not work this year. It’s important that Medicare beneficiaries keep up to date with changes to Medicare.”
“Your Medicare Choices” will be presented by the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center and community partners. This is event is intended for current and soon-to-be Medicare beneficiaries as well as adult children and other family members attending to another’s health care. The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. For more information call (253) 798-4600.

Fund-raising by students at Federal Way Public Academy is helping the Wesley Homes Des Moines Health Center Music and Memory program for Alzheimer’s patients.
The students collected $433 and used iPods for the use of developing personalized music playlists that are uploaded to iPods and played through headphones. The music helps those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease interact with their surroundings.
The students met at the Des Moines facility with Wesley Homes chaplain Michael Byrd, who talked to them about the program. They later witnessed the program’s effects firsthand, watching one woman dance, bob her head and laughe while listening to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Another woman clearly recalled lyrics and sang along to her beloved hymns.
“We all enjoy music, which is overwhelmingly associated with positive memories,” Byrd said. “It has an emotional impact on us, but more importantly, our brains have the ability to retain it. This program is a significant way to help memory-impaired people restore their sense of self, even if it’s for a short while. It’s a joy to to share this with the students.”

Monica Butler, barely retired from the financial industry, has found a new interest as the newly appointed member of Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees.
Butler, a Gig Harbor resident, was nominated by County Executive Pat McCarthy and confirmed by the County Council to replace Allen Rose, whose term expired at the end of July. Butler’s appointment is for a five-year term.
She retired in 2014 from her post as the retirement director for Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System. She previously worked for 26 years with Russell Investments in various positions, and she has a long history as an investment consultant to boards and as a volunteer board member of several organizations. She has degrees from New York University and Cornell University.
The library board approves budgets and contracts, sets library policy and studies community needs. Board members are unpaid.
The library system serves a population of 560,000 plus with 19 branches and online programs that lend more than 6.9 million items each year.