Senior Center News, April 28, 2017

North Central Senior Center — May 1-5

Monday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; exercise class at 11 a.m.

Tuesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; bingo at 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; TOPS at 8 a.m.; cards at 1 p.m.

Thursday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; cards at 1 p.m.; exercise class at 11 a.m.; Kmart/Walmart trip from 1 to 4 p.m.

Friday — Medical transportation is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but people must make a request at least 24 hours in advance.

Menu by Earlene DeWinter

Monday — Spaghetti/ravioli, lettuce salad, bread sticks, cheesecake

Tuesday — Jell-O salad, meatloaf, baked potato, green beans, bread pudding

Wednesday — Barbecued pork, baked beans, coleslaw, corn bread, apples

Thursday — Hot turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin bars

Friday — Soup, salad bar, chef’s choice, dessert, milk

Montana issues

From Senior Medicare Patrol

The Doctor Nurse Is In

Are you on a Medicare Advantage Plan? If you are, you may have already received a call from your insurer offering you home visit or assessment. By now, you have heard from many sources, including SMP, how important it is not to give your personal information out over the phone and to be leery of any unsolicited home visits. This still stands true; however, be aware that legitimate calls from you Medicare Advantage plan may be coming your way. It will be up to you as to whether you accept their offer of a visit. Regardless of whether you’re comfortable accepting a home visit from your plan, it’s wise to stick to the script of never giving out personal information over the phone. If you are unsure of whether something is a scam, call your local SMP at 1-800-551-3191.

Fraud Alert

We received a report from a beneficiary in Spokane who received a call purportedly from Social Security. The “Social Security” representative was very persistent, and asked her for “that old number that you got when you were a kid.”

Never give your information out over the phone. For calls like this it is best to have a script ready that states, “I’m sorry, I don’t give out information like that over the phone.” Even if you feel it’s legitimate, let the person know you’re going to hang up and call them back so you can confirm they are who they say they are. What you don’t need to tell them is that instead of calling them back at the number they give you, look up or have someone else look up the official government number. The blue pages in the phone book or a quick Google search will give you an official government phone number to call back. You would report the incident and give them the phone number you were given. If this is a scam, which it would be because Social Security and Medicare would never call you for your personal information, you should report it to the SSA Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.

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Senior Medicare Patrol is a program coordinated by Missoula Aging Services and partnered with local Area Agencies on Aging. This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MP0233, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.