PPLD Partnership

Four Part Medicare Series

The PPLD and the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging have taken your suggestions and have developed a Four-Part Medicare Series to dive more deeply into Medicare and retirement.  Please join us as we begin exploring Medicare on a new level in 2021.

Let’s face it!  Medicare can be confusing!  This series is designed to provide information to guide and support you as you make important health care decisions that affect the rest of your life!

Each week will each focus on a different part of Medicare.

October 7 – Session 1:  Medicare Eligibility and Coverage (Part A/B)

Explains eligibility for enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B, how to enroll and when to enroll (enrollment periods).

Explains Medicare Parts A and B costs, what A and B cover (benefits) and options available when something is not covered by Medicare.

October 14 – Session 2:  Medicare Options: Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans

This course assumes that the attendee’s already have a basic knowledge of Medicare A and B eligibility, enrollment and of benefits and coverage or that they have already attended Session 1:  Medicare Eligibility and Coverage.

Explains the 2 types of coverage consumers can choose from for additional insurance to go with their Medicare A and B: Medigaps and Medicare Advantage Plans, what they are, how they coordinate with Medicare and what coverage they provide for those enrolled in Medicare A and B.

October 21 – Session 3:  Medicare Part D

This course explains the newest benefit of Medicare, Part D, for prescription drug coverage.  Details how Part D works, how to get it, what the costs are for Part D, eligibility and how to apply for financial assistance with Part D costs for those with low incomes.  Will also discuss other cost saving options available to consumers enrolled in Part D.

October 28 – Session 4:  Medicare, Medicaid, and Other Health Insurance Options – What you need to know

Explains the CO Medicaid programs people with Medicare may be eligible for and how those Medicaid programs coordinate with Medicare.

Also discusses how other health insurance options work with Medicare such as Employer Group Health Plans  (EGHP) for active and retired employee’s, COBRA, TriCare For Life, PERA, FEHB, etc.

The speaker comes from the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging Senior Insurance Assistance department, the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP). The SHIP has been at the forefront of this emerging boom to provide up to date, current insurance information.  These SHIP counselors are trained experts who do not sell or endorse any insurance products.  The Medicare series is designed to answer questions and provide information to help older adults make the most informed choices.

For information on Medicare Senior Insurance reach out at seniorinsur@ppacg.org or call (719) 635-4891 for more information or questions

Social Security Administration Partnership

Social Security 101

People approaching retirement age, adult children and others have many questions regarding social security. This class covers many of the common retirement topics including:

* Eligibility for retirement

* How age affects retirement benefit

* How work affects retirement benefit

* How non-covered pensions (PERA) can potentially affect your Retirement and Survivor benefits.

Handouts

Disability Benefits 2021

Medicare Benefits 2021

Retirement Benefits 2021

Survivors Benefits 2021

2021 Classes

Area Agency on Aging and Ent Partnership

Retirement Series

Planning to retire?  Plan to attend!  

Every year Ent partners with the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) Agency on Aging to present FREE retirement prep classes. Find out the latest information on Social Security and Medicare plus how to plan for the financial, medical, legal and even social impacts of retirement. Attend one class or the entire series for great information and tools to jump-start your retirement planning

9/20/21, 4:00 PM – ESTATE PLANNING

Getting your affairs in order can be a daunting task. During this presentation, you will be guided to understand how four key estate planning tips can change your life. You will learn how estate planning can be simple and inexpensive. By following a few easy steps you can save your family from formal probate, save thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs, and most important, contribute to family peace.
Presenter: Chester (Skip) H. Morgan, II, Morgan Legal Offices, P.C.

Handouts

9/27/21, 4:00 PM – SOCIAL SECURITY 101

As you begin to approach retirement, you may see a flood of information that may or may not be fully accurate. Josh Weller, a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration, will provide an educational webinar about benefit options. The session will address Social Security questions including benefits calculations, benefit eligibility factors, application process, an overview of all the different benefits Social Security administers and more.
Presenter: Josh Weller, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration

Handouts

10/4/2021, 4:00 PM – MEANING AND PURPOSE IN RETIREMENT 

Hooray! You don’t have to go to work! So now what? Just as you can benefit from financial planning for retirement, so you can benefit from planning for a sense of meaning and purpose. This session invites you to think about how you can create the life you want in your retirement phase of life.
Presenter: Sara Honn Qualls, Ph.D., ABPP, Kraemer Family Professor of Aging Studies and Professor of Psychology, Director, Gerontology Center

Handouts – Meaning and Purpose worksheets

Completed Classes – Recordings available on the PPACG YouTube Page

8/30/21 – MEDICARE 101

9/13/21 – RETIRE BY DESIGN

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational program designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend.  You will benefit from this class whether you are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, assisted living residence or across the country.

Dates: Mondays, October 18 – November 22,  2021

Times: 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Location: TBD (Online/In-person/Hybrid)

This class series meets once a week for six weeks.  Class size is limited to 12 caregivers and registration is required.

To register: Contact Kent Mathews MSW, Family Caregiver Support Center Lead at kmathews@ppacg.org or (719) 471-2096 ext. 115

Registration Deadline:   Friday, October 8, 2021

Caring Conversations Support Group

Caring Conversations is a support group for caregivers to assist in coping with the challenges of family caregiving

For information on session dates or to register: Contact Kent Mathews MSW at kmathews@ppacg.org or (719) 886-7526 or Jennifer Horn MSW at jhorn@ppacg.org or (719) 471-2096 ext. 108

Classes at PILLAR

Kent Mathews MSW, PPACG Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Center Lead will be presenting two classes through PILLAR.  Classes can be attended in person or via ZOOM. Register at www.pillarinstitute.org.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 10 to 11:30 AM – The Puzzle of Caregiving

Being a family caregiver is challenging, confusing and life changing.  Some have said caregiving is like putting together a puzzle without the picture on the box to guide you.  But there is an overall picture with 5 distinct motifs.  Each motif has its own set of pieces that must be worked in order to assemble the puzzle.  Knowing how the pieces fit together will help participants better understand the complexities and challenges family caregivers face on a daily basis.

Wednesday, October 27, 2021  10 to 11:30 AM – Dying to Live

Our values and beliefs guide and direct our actions.  They determine our WHY for doing.  They can help us move forward or even hold us back.  Dying to Live will identify some of our basic values and beliefs.  We will discuss their influence on our why for caregiving and their impact on our ability to provide care.  We will explore how our values and beliefs create the realities we experience as a caregiver for a family member.