All things improve with age and SWCAA is no exception.The Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging has been helpingolder adults navigate the challenges of aging for forty yearsand now its time to celebrate! Please join Board and Advisory members, past and present to reminisce and celebrate SWCAA andthe agency’s role in shaping the aging network in SouthwesternConnecticut for over four decades.

Calling all former Board and Advisory members… SWCAA is looking for you!

Are you a past member of the Staff,Board or Advisory Council? Do you have a story or a remembrance to share? Please helpus recreate our history with stories from the people who shaped SWCAA’s past. Stories willbe used to create SWCAA’s regional services directory and others will be featured in theAgency video. Contact Gretchen James at 203-814-3620 or gjames@swcaa.org to shareyour story.

The Older Americans Act calls for an “Agency on Aging” to represent the community byincluding the people served and the people serving older adults in its leadership structure.Our Advisory Council and Board have always helped guide the Agency and shape agingpolicy throughout the State. One member from each decade will be recognized with the“Aging in Excellence” Award at our 40th Anniversary Party.

Unprecedented Opportunity to reach the Aging Network SWCAA is publishing an ultimate aging resource guide/directory. Contact Gretchen James by July 15th to advertise youragency in the Southwest CT Regional Service Directory. SWCAA’s directories are the “go-to” reference used by aging network professionals to refer and identify agencies and services for older adults. For more information and ad pricing seepage four of this newsletter.

Tickets for the anniversary celebration will go on sale in June. For the latest information visit www.swcaa.org underUpcoming Events.

SPRING 2014 VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 14

AgingIssues

SWCAA is Turning 40! SAVE THE DATESWCAA’s 40th

Anniversary CelebrationThursday, September 18, 2014

5:30 pm – 7:30 pmat the Norwalk Inn

Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres

Raffle in support of theCritical Needs Fund

40th Anniversary Chairperson andSWCAA Board Member, PennyYoung wants to hear from thetrailblazers who helped shapeSWCAA over the last four decades.

Access Health CT enrolls nearly 200,000 with the help ofAssisters and NavigatorsAudrey, a resident of Milford, found herself at the FairfieldLibrary because her local library did not have a book thather son needed for school. She heard an announcementover the library’s PA system saying that a health insurancecounselor was there for anyone who had questions regard-ing the ACA and the health insurance marketplace. Audreythought, “we are probably not eligible for anything butsince I’m here let me stop in and talk to the counselor.”Ninety minutes later, she was thanking Doug, one SWCAA’sassisters , who informed her that not only were she and herhusband eligible for Medicaid expansion but so were herparents and her three siblings all currently without healthinsurance.

SWCAA was amongmore than a hundrednon profit agenciesacross CT that wereawarded small grantsto train individuals asin-person assisters forCT’s Health InsuranceMarketplace, AccessHealth CT. Doug,Soraya and Sylviacounseled hundreds ofindividuals and fami-lies and helped over300 people enroll ineither Medicaid or a

qualified health plan through Access Health CT.

Despite a slow start and massive healthcare.gov websiteglitches, over 7 million people across the U.S. are nowinsured through the health insurance marketplaces. Somequalify for Medicaid in states that opted to expandMedicaid like CT. Others qualify for marketplace healthplans. In CT, almost 200,000 people have enrolled throughAccess Health CT- just under two thirds qualifying forMedicaid and the other third buying a qualified healthplan. About 73% of individuals purchasing a private healthplan were eligible for some subsidy to lower their out ofpocket costs.

Clara worked for Bridgeport’s Public School system untilshe was laid off at 62 years of age. Unable to afford COBRAand over income for Medicaid, Clara feared she’d have to gowithout health insurance until she turned 65 and qualifiedfor Medicare. After meeting Sylvia, one of SWCAA’s threetrained assisters, Clara was thrilled to learn that she quali-fied for a private health plan through Access Health CT.Due to her income, Clara was eligible for maximum taxcredits and cost savings reductions which provided herwith health insurance for just $7 per month.

Thirty-three year old Anna works for an employer that doesnot provide employee health insurance. Anna’s pre-existingcondition prevented her from getting insurance prior to theACA. She took a chance on stopping by the NorwalkLibrary to talk with Soraya, an in person assister with officehours on Saturdays. Soraya helped Anna complete theonline application through Access Health. Anna was ecstatic to learn that she could afford a private health planwith Connecticare, one of three insurance carriers offeringplans through CT’s marketplace. Anna also qualified for atax credit to lower her monthly premiums and make theinsurance affordable. She could now get the medical careshe needed but had been putting off because she was uninsured.

The Affordable Care Act has certainly had its share of controversy and challenges. Not everyone is experiencingsavings or the ablity to afford insurance through the marketplaces. However, for the thousands of individualswith pre-existing conditions like Anna and thousands ofother with low paying jobs and no health insurance, thislaw has been a life saver. Only time will tell the successor failure of the law and whether we are able to keep pre-miums affordable and maintain and access to quality care.

The efforts of nonprofits like SWCAA in support of theACA enrollment initiative can’t be understated. The armyof community assisters made personal connections withso many individuals confused by the complexity of theACA. SWCAA thanks and commends the efforts of theassisters for the dedication and commitment they gave tothis project.

PAGE 2 AGING ISSUES

SWCAA Assisters: (from left to right): SylviaCrespo, Doug DeFauw and Soraya Principe.

SAVETHE DATE 9-18-2014 SWCAA’S 40TH

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

CHOICES CornerSWCAA has just graduated anotherclass of newly trained CHOICEScounselors. CHOICES Counselorsreceive extensive training to providefree, objective information and assistance to help individuals under-stand their health insurance options.We have some excellent volunteers

who are eager to put their knowledge to work assistingolder adults and persons with disabilities navigate theworld of Medicare. With the Medicare population growingat a rate of 14% per year, the need for competent, highlyskilled counselors who can provide unbiased comprehensive information and assistance to Medicarebeneficiaries has never been more crucial. CHOICES counselors do not sell insurance or endorse any insurancecarriers. Our goal is to empower Medicare beneficiaries tobecome informed consumers of their health insuranceneeds. If your organization has the need for a CHOICES

Volunteer Counselor please contact Christina Crain atccrain@swcaa.org or 203-814-3686.

Medicare Savings Program and Low IncomeSubsidy can help Medicare beneficiaries save $$$.

The Medicare Savings Program (MSP), administered by theCT Dept. of Social Services helps pay the Part B premiumfor Medicare beneficiaries and in some cases, can also paythe Part A premium for those who don’t qualify forPremium free Medicare Part A as well as Medicare Part Aand B’s deductibles and co-insurance amounts. QualifiedMSP recipients have the added benefit of automaticallyqualifying for the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) to help paytheir prescription drug costs through Medicare. Incomelimits are $2,393/ month for a single person and $3,225/month for a married couple. There are no asset limitsto qualify. For an application or educational presentationon the MSP and LIS programs call CHOICES at800-994-9422.

Stratford Senior Services has been a recipient of SWCAATitle III funding for over 20 years. They have utilized thesefunds to provide outreach, transportation and family care-giver support services to Stratford seniors and their fami-lies. In addition, they are the designated focal point andAging and Disability Resource Network partner forStratford. Last Autumn, Stratford Senior Services took on anew look when they welcomed four new staff members tothe department.

Mary Balog is now the part-time Outreach Coordinator. Shevisits older adults who cannot come to the Baldwin Centerand provides information about community services andresources to help maintain people in their own homes. Shealso implements programs at the various housing sites inStratford, both informational and entertaining, similar toprograms at the Baldwin Center.

Judith Hampel is working as the department’s part-timeFamily Caregiver Counselor. She helps family caregivers ofolder adults with developing plans of care and directs themto appropriate resources. She assists with related paperworkand provides emotional support to those taking care of anelderly family member.

In addition to these two positions which are supported byOlder Americans Act grants: Shirley Dominguez joined thestaff as the Town’s Senior Services Specialist, assisting people 60 and over with Federal, State and local benefits;and Erin McLeod now administers the CARES program, asocial model adult activities program for people who mayhave a memory challenge or are physically frail.

The grant-funded programs and services are available at nocost, though donations are accepted. Services are providedto Stratford residents or caregivers whose relative lives inStratford. For more information or to talk with any of thesestaff members, please call 203-385-4050.

SPRING 2014 PAGE 3

Stratford Senior Services Welcomes new staff members (from left to right):Mary Balog, Judith Hampel, Erin McLeod, and Shirley Dominquez.

Grantee SpotlightStratford Senior Services Welcomes New Staff Members

PAGE 4 AGING ISSUES

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Stamford, CT

Permit No. 102

10 Middle StreetBridgeport, CT 06604

Tel: (203) 333-9288Fax: (203) 696-3866

website: www.swcaa.org

Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, Inc.10 Middle Street • Bridgeport, CT 06604 • Tel: (203) 333-9288 • Fax: (203) 696-3866 • website: www.swcaa.org

Chairperson of the Board: Alice Pisani • Chairperson of the Advisory Council: Paul Palermo • Executive Director: Marie L. Allen

Visit Us on Facebook, and Become a Fan!

Senior Medicare PatrolVolunteer TrainingWednesday, May 21, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

This is a Foundations Training for individuals interested inteaching Medicare beneficiaries how to protect their per-sonal identity, detect potential billing errors and reportpotential healthcare fraud and abuse.

To apply to become a Senior Medicare Patrol Volunteer,please visit www.swcaa.org and click on “upcoming events”on the right side of homepage to download and complete application.

For more questions, email SMP Volunteeer CoordinatorLaurette DesRosiers at ldesrosiers@swcaa.org or call at203-814-3607.

To advertise in SWCAA’sSouthwest CT Regional Service

Directory/Ad Book,call 203-814-3620 or

email Gjames@swcaa.org

Full Page Ad: $7507.5" x 10"

Half Page Ad: $5007.5" x 4.875"

Quarter Page Ad: $2253.625" x 4.875"

Must be submitted in jpeg or pdf format, high resolution(at least 300 dpi)

Email ads to Gjames@swcaa.org