December 28, 2022 North Massapequa

STUDENT

- Berner Middle School student council members, joined by Principal Jason Esposito, Superintendent Dr. William Brennan and co-adviser Teresa Ferreira, showed some of the donations that filled 15 boxes during a recent food drive. Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District

Medicare Lowers Premiums And Deductibles

Written by Barry Klitsberg, Nassau County Medicare Counselor, FCA

For those of us who are enrolled in the Medicare program, there is good news on the horizon. Medicare has made significant changes to its premiums and deductibles, lowering the cost to the beneficiary. While the cost of just about everything has gone up, the monthly Medicare Part B premium has been reduced for the first time this century, from $170.10 to $164.90, for a yearly saving of $62.40. What’s more, the Medicare Part B deductible has gone down

from $233 per year to $226. These two reductions have broken a string of yearly increases.

Medicare Part B generally covers medically necessary services, that is, services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practice. Part B also covers a wide range of preventive services from shots to screenings to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.

In addition, due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will finally be able to negotiate prescription drug costs directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers. While this section of the law doesn’t go into effect until 2025, in the interim, beneficiaries

who are insulin dependent can have their insulin costs capped at $35.00 per month. This can save hundreds of dollars a month. Also, the Inflation Reduction Act calls for out of pocket prescription expenses to be capped at $2,000 annually.

In order to determine which type of plan works best for you, you should call the Nassau County Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program, HIICAP hotline. This is a free service that will guide you to the best plan for you. We have no affiliation with insurance companies, agents or brokers. Our number is 516-485-3754. While we are quite busy during Medicare Open Enrollment Season, we strive to return every call on our voice mail within two working days, and usually call sooner.

FCA can help. Answers

to your Medicare questions are just a phone call away.

Barry Klitsberg is an Assistant Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance (HIICAP) Coordinator at FCA in Garden City and an Aging Services Program Specialist at US Department of Health and Human Services.

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Staying Sober During The Holiday Season

By Christopher Yadron, PhD, CEO at Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research

Whether you are newly sober or have maintained your sobriety long-term, you likely know that recovery is a lifelong journey. While challenging, maintaining sobriety is possible – even during the holiday season.

Deemed as “the most wonderful time of the year,” the holidays can also be quite stressful and triggering for those in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). The season “to eat, drink and be merry” is often filled with holiday-themed cocktails at work parties, eggnog at friendly get-togethers, and an open bottle of wine at family events. So how does one focus on staying sober during the holidays? The team at Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research, an addiction treatment facility in Calverton, NY, believes it is by identifying and utilizing appropriate coping skills developed through advanced addiction treatment.

Here are six coping skills that may be helpful for staying sober during the holidays:

• Delay the decision: When feeling triggered or experiencing urges to use alcohol, put off making that decision for just 15 minutes. Many urges will go away if you do not give in immediately. Use that 15 minutes to remind yourself that the strength of the urge will decrease if you remain strong and wait it out.

• Use grounding techniques: Grounding techniques take an individual through their 5 senses, helping them remain in the current moment rather than focusing on the thoughts that are urging them to use. Grounding techniques are a powerful coping skill

that allow an individual to remain in the present moment and tune into their surroundings. Examples might include appreciating a holiday light display, savoring the smell of cookies baking in the oven, or listening to your favorite holiday music.

• Change your thoughts: Managing thoughts about using can help an individual cope with the urges. Some ways to change your thoughts about using are:

- Find new thoughts to challenge the current ones that lead to use. For example, “My track record has proven that I cannot have one drink and then stop.” The more you challenge the thoughts that allow for use, the more comfortable you will get in utilizing this technique.

- Think about the benefits of recovery. Thinking through the positive consequences of not using will help to weaken the urge to use drugs or alcohol.

- Think about the negative consequences. Reminding yourself about what you can lose and how using will negatively impact your future can be helpful in curbing the impulse to use. Some individuals find it helpful to carry a card that lists both positive and negative consequences to serve as

a reminder.

• Do something else: Finding a healthy activity that one can do immediately interrupts the thought process and distracts the individual from the urge to use. Healthy activities can be enjoyable and provide a sense of accomplishment. These activities should occur in a space safe from triggers.

• Utilize deep breathing exercises: Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. It is a wonderful coping skill to prevent relapse as it is discreet, allowing it to be used in a variety of situations.

• Don’t Try to do it Alone: It is crucial that an individual battling SUD has a support system that they can lean on. Having a supportive sponsor or just a trustworthy person to contact can provide the extra needed support. Also, attending support groups such as AA, NA and Smart Recovery during the holiday season can provide a safe place for an individual to discuss their triggers. When attending a holiday event, having someone there to support your sobriety is monumental. It is important to alleviate the pressure of feeling like you’ll have to get through it alone.

Staying sober during the holidays can be an empowering feat, but it is important to remember that recovery is a journey and that relapses do occur. More importantly, a relapse doesn’t mean that you are a failure or that you should give up on sobriety. If you or a loved one are struggling this holiday season, or fear relapse, reach out to our team at Wellbridge at 631.840.0762 for advanced support; we are here to help you.

CHRISTOPHER YADRON, PH.D.

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By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for December is EAC Network

www.eac-network.org

EAC Network is a non-profit organization that empowers, assists and cares for individuals in need. Their objective is to reach individuals within our community through innovative programs that improve quality of life.

Their programs are lead by an outstanding leadership team along with exceptional volunteers. Seniors make up a large portion of the population on Long Island and EAC Network proudly serves them. Their Meals on Wheels program in Nassau County and their InHome Respite Services program helps seniors face challenges with dignity and resourcefulness.

Last year, the EAC Network provided over 180,000 home delivered meals to frail, disabled and homebound local seniors who fervently wish to remain in their own homes. Their nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks help seniors cope with three of the biggest threats of aging – hunger, isolation and loss of independence.

“We received a call from one of our clients recently who told us that the conversations with their Meals on Wheels driver have helped him cope with his wife’s passing,” said Robert Stricoff, Chief Development Officer at EAC Network. “You cannot put a dollar amount on how this program improved this couple’s quality of life and kept them together in the home that they loved and had so many positive memories at.”

According to a Brown University study in 2015, high-risk seniors receiving Meals on Wheels showed greater improvements in both mental and physical health, fewer hospitalizations and were less likely to fall. When you consider that the cost of one year for a senior to receive meals is less than one day in a hospital, it is a bargain and

money truly well spent.

Mary Coyle, Senior Director for Senior Services, Nutrition Education & Food Services at EAC Network said, “Providing food and comfort to our most vulnerable seniors is not a cost to the county, it is an investment. Well cared for and fed seniors strengthens our communities and lowers the overall cost to taxpayers.”

Furthermore, the Meals on Wheels program provides more than just food; drivers deliver a smile, friendly visit, companionship and socialization, all of which is valuable contact for those who live alone. Additionally, dependent on funding, birthdays are celebrated with a cake and pet owners may also receive pet food. To inquire about receiving or volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Nassau County, please contact Mary Coyle at (516) 992-0081 ext 206 or Mary. Coyle@eac-network.org.

If your nonprofit would like to be featured in this column, please call Noelle Lambert at 631.226.2636 x225 for consideration.

EAC Meals on Wheels driver Gary Stricoff delivers a meal and a smile to a senior in Nassau County

Eagle Scout Project To Support Hungry For Music

Scouts BSA Life Scout, Hanna R. of Troop 430 Chartered by Amvets Post 76, is working on her Eagle Scout Service Project and is asking for your help. The project includes collecting musical instruments to donate to Hungry for Music, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides instruments to schools

and children in need. The Instrument collection drive is ongoing and all band and orchestra instruments are accepted. If you or someone you know have an instrument you are no longer using and would like to donate, please call or text (631)647-0814 to set up pick up or drop off. Visit hungryformusic.org

for more information about the project beneficiary.

For more information on Scouts BSA in Suffolk County please visit https:// www.sccbsa.org/

For more information on scouting in the Bay Shore Brightwaters area visit:http:// troop0043bayshore. ScoutLander.com

Coldwell Banker American Homes Massapequa Park Office Supports The John Theissen Children’s Foundation

Coldwell Banker American Homes Massapequa Park Office would like to thank all who contributed to their toy drive benefiting the John Theissen Children’s Foundation at Coldwell Banker American Homes Massapequa Park Office! They would also like to wish everyone a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season from our home to yours!!!

THINKING

Representatives will assist you. We c an help you with a lin e ad or a di splay ad. Let us at SOUTH BAY'S NEIGHBOR NEWS PAPE RS set up an adv ertising program for you. Y ou'll be glad you di d! Call 631-226-2636, ext. 276

BUYING? SELLI NG? RENTING? Place your ad in the Classifieds. 631-226-2636 Ext. 276

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

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