Senior Center News, March 12, 2021

North Central Senior Citizens Center, March 15-19

Menu by Earlene DeWinter, subject to change

Monday — Taco burger, Mexican rice, chips with nacho cheese, dessert

Tuesday — Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, green beans, salad, pineapple cake

Wednesday — Corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, fruit

Thursday — Pork tips, noodles, salad, coffee sake

Friday — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

The Senior Center’s doors are still closed to the public. We are providing limited services by phone with individuals bringing their paperwork down to the center. Help is being given over the phone when possible.

Tax preparation information

The AARP Tax Preparation people are having major challenges reaching people to help them with their taxes. People still are not answering their phones. They will try to contact you two or three times. After that your name will go to the bottom of the call list. If you don’t want this to happen, please answer your phone.

If you want your taxes done, put your name on the call list at the Senior Center and the Preparers will contact you to set up an appointment. The individuals that do the preparation are diligently working on the procedures they have to follow and have been making fantastic progress. They are taking additional seniors on their call list. When they call you to set up your appointment, be sure to answer your phone. As stated previously, they will try to contact individuals a couple of time, but they cannot spend all day calling one person. They are running into the problem of people not answering their phone or phones not working. As much as we don’t like the scam calls, you can hang up on them. Answer your phone in case it is from the AARP tax people so they don’t have to keep trying to call.

Walk-ins will not be accepted. On the day of your appointment, please wait it the alley by the doors on the west side of the building. Someone will come out and get you as they limited to the number of people they can have in the building at any given time.

The process is taking a little longer because of restrictions which have been implemented. Please be patient. They thank you for your patience as the new methods are tested and implemented.

Transportation: The Senior Center is providing medical transportation only. Remember to call ahead for Friday’s appointments. Monday and Thursday rides have to be worked around grocery delivery.

Congregate meals: We are still continuing to provide meals at the Hill County Senior Center as grab and go meals while we are still closed. If you would like to pick up a meal, please be sure to call the Center before 10 a.m. to order your meal through the kitchen. Your meals may be picked up at the center from 11:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you would like to, you may order a meal for one day or put in your order for the entire week. If you would please let us know which meals you would be like ahead of time, it would be beneficial in preparation so we are aware of how much food to fix each day.

With the isolation, challenges are being felt by some people be a friendly neighbor. Contact a senior or a veteran that may be facing challenges just to see how they are doing. The personal contact will help them feel a great deal better.

Important phone numbers:

• Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

• Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free)

• Friendship Line by Institute on Aging - The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016

• For those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.

Need help paying bills?

From: Elderly assistance programs | Help for senior citizens (needhelppayingbills.com)

Emergency financial help for low income seniors

Get financial advice and bill paying assistance. These programs are normally cosponsored by the AARP Foundation as well as aging and adults. Services will often include money management advice to help low-income senior citizens and adults with physical disabilities that have difficulty paying routine bills, budgeting and keeping track of financial matters.

The goal of this resource is to also promote independent living for individuals and senior citizens. It is targeted at those who are at risk of losing their independence due to inability to pay their bills on time and in general manage their financial affairs. The program uses a combination of credit counselors and volunteers to assist individuals who may not have relatives or friends who are willing to help.

Sadly, many older Americans are the targets of scams or fraud, even when it comes to medical bills, health care, and prescriptions. A free service known as Senior Medicare Patrol — SMP — was created by a group of specialists. It can help individuals detect billing errors and fraud, even when it comes to Medicare. Most of the counselors operate out of agency on agency offices in towns and cities across the nation.

Subsidized housing or assisted living homes are available for the elderly as well as lower income senior citizens. There are apartments, condos, townhomes, and nursing facilities available among other options. The federal government will also help pay for care givers from PACE to help seniors live independently in their current, own homes. There are also charitable and non-proft home programs. More on senior citizen and elderly subsidized housing.

Low income senior citizens often get help with their property taxes. Most states offer rebates, payment plans, or Homestead Exemptions to the elderly who often live on a low fixed income or social security. Government resources can provide them significant savings. Find senior citizen property tax exemptions.

Oftentimes individuals can learn about financial assistance programs, such as rent or energy bill help or additional social security retirement benefits. For example, the federal government Low Income Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP — assists low-income households. Priority is usually given to people who are most at risk such as seniors or the disabled. Financial help can be offered for senior run households who are experiencing a home energy emergency.

A crisis can be addressed too. This may result from an unpaid utility or heating bill, the receipt of a shut off notice, or lack of fuel or wood. Payments from LIHEAP are used for paying home cooling and heating and other emergency energy-related costs during the cooling — April-September — and heating — October-March — seasons. In general, a qualified household with a senior citizen living in it may be provided a onetime cash benefit per season, up to $600 per approved applications. Payments will be made directly to the vendor or utility company.

Another example is housing. Rent assistance vouchers can be provided to senior citizens and the elderly from programs such as Section 202 or 8. Both are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development —HUD — but are administered by public housing agencies. Your area of aging office can often provide details on this or housing resources, such as Section 202 housing vouchers.

While not quite as common, oftentimes Medical or General Transportation can be arranged. Some senior centers can provide transportation to health care and doctor appointments for persons 60 years old and older. Other charity organizations, such as a church, may provide this service in an emergency as well. It is usually offered at a minimal cost, but some locations may offer the rides for free.

Transportation can be provided to seniors for appointments near them, including shopping trips, doctor appointments, and other needs. Many agency on aging centers, non-profits such as the Salvation Army, and maybe even churches offer this service either for free or a reduced price. A number of needs can be fulfilled by these ride.

The most common reason will be for a doctor appointment or shopping trip for groceries, however rides can be provided for other reasons as well. Individuals with mobility issues or a disability can also access these programs and drivers will usually be able to help them get into and out of the vehicle that is being used. Learn more on transportation services for seniors.

There is of course social security. Senior citizens can start receiving their first check from this government benefit as early as the age of 62. But the later they wait to file for benefits, the more money they will get each month from the government. Learn more about age to start collecting social security payments.

If there is a delay when the payments start for the senior, or if the retired person needs more money, there are also supplemental loans that can be applied to. The money can be used to help pay bills, cover medical needs, and other costs during this transition period. Continue with loans for seniors on Social Security.