Anthony D. Edwards, of Sholler Edwards LLC, will be at the Pagosa Springs Senior Center for a presentation and legal assistance on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Edwards offers assistance with public benefits and utilities shut off; landlord/tenant problems; older adults being evicted; simple wills; medical-durable power of attorney and living wills; consumer issues such as advocating for persons harassed by debt collectors; emergency-limited long-term care guardianship and domestic problems; such as abuse (all inclusive: exploitation, emotional, physical, etc.); and elder abuse education presentations: financial exploitation, emotional, physical, etc.
Health and wellness
The Senior Center has initiated a new pilot program expanding health and wellness services to Archuleta County seniors. The program will include wellness, blood pressure monitoring or allow individual area seniors to discuss two subjects of their choice. There is no charge for Medicare enrollees.
Participant IDs will include Medicare card, photo ID, and if necessary, any supplemental insurances. No Medicaid accepted at this time. Participants are encouraged to bring a list of their current medications.
Clinical assessment will be provided by Tabitha Zappone, FNP-C, of Alpine Medical and Specialty Practices. Zappone has been a nurse practitioner for six years and a longtime resident of Pagosa Springs. She understands the difficulties of obtaining health care in a rural area and how these obstacles can be greater for seniors. The goal of the outreach clinic is to provide care to those who are not able to travel.
The next wellness event will be Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VITA tax assistance
For the past several years, the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) group out of Durango has come to the Senior Center offering free income tax preparation for seniors. This year, due to lack of adequate volunteers from Tax Help Colorado out of Denver, the Durango VITA tax volunteers will not be able to assist senior taxpayers in Pagosa Springs.
Seniors can, however, go to Durango for help with their taxes. The schedule is as follows: Seniors only on Mondays (call 382-6445 for an appointment) and all ages on Saturdays (call 335-9776 for an appointment). The qualifying income level for free assistance is $54,000.
Computer center
The Senior Center provides computer access to seniors who are members of the Discount Club.
Computers stations are available by the hour. If no one has signed up for the next hour, seniors may continue to use the computer for an additional hour(s). Computer and Internet access is available during business hours when staff is in attendance and classes are not in session.
Volunteer help available at computer center
A volunteer will be at the computer center on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help with your computer issues. Bring your computer or use one of ours.
Medical alert system
Medical alert monitoring systems are available for seniors. We can help you get set up with a system and assist with the monthly service charges or if you already have a system in place, we can help supplement the monthly service fees. Please call 264-2167 for more information or to sign up.
Medicare Mondays
Are you turning 65? Do you need some help with Medicare? The San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging has openings every Monday at the Senior Center to help you with your Medicare enrollment questions.
Here are some quick tips: If you are collecting Social Security, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. We can help you pick a Part D Prescription Drug Plan. If you don’t enroll in a Part D plan, you could face penalties. If you are new to Medicare, you have an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for parts A, B and D around your 65th birthday. Medicare starts after your employment ends or the group health insurance plan based on your current employment ends, whichever happens first. You do not pay late penalties if you enroll within the eight-month Special Enrollment Period. COBRA and retiree health plans are not considered coverage based on current employment.
Important dates: General enrollment runs from Jan. 1 through March 31 each year and coverage starts July 1. Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 is open (or annual) enrollment for switching plans for Part D and a Medicare Cost Plan; coverage starts Jan. 1.
If you would like to talk to a Medicare counselor, please contact the Area Agency on Aging to make an appointment. Please call 264-0501, ext. 2. We will put you in touch with one of our talented and experienced Medicare counselors.
Memberships
Senior Discount Club memberships are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Menu
Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch. If you are a senior (60 years and older), for only a $4 suggested donation, you are eligible for a hot meal, drink and a salad prepared by our kitchen staff.
The guest fee for those 59 and under is $10 and children 10 years and under can eat for $5 each. Access to the salad bar is only $6 for those under 60.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16 — BBQ pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, spinach with tomato and salad bar.
Friday, Feb. 17 — Chicken and dumplings, glazed carrots, green beans with almonds and salad bar.
Monday, Feb. 20 — Closed for Washington’s birthday.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 — Baked pork ziti, yellow squash medley, roasted cauliflower soup, focaccia bread and salad bar.
Wednesday, Feb. 22 — Baked salmon, quinoa pilaf, baked tomato provencal, bacon green beans and salad bar.
Thursday, Feb. 23 — Turkey orzo soup, roasted cauliflower with red pepper, zucchini noodles Alfredo and salad bar.
Reservations and cancellations are required. You can make a reservation at 264-2167 by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you would like to dine in the Community Cafe at the Senior Center.
For your convenience, you can make your reservations in advance or have a standing reservation on days you know you will always attend. Please cancel if you cannot attend on your standing reservation days.
