Fulton Presbyterian Manor
AUGUST 2020
Summers are made for unplanned adventures It’s common for families to venture out across the country during the dog days of summer, when children are free from the rigors of daily schoolwork, and parents are looking to create lasting memories. For resident Abbie Akers, one of the more memorable and unusual adventures was an impromptu trip to Canada with her husband, children and extended family — nine people altogether, all crammed into a single station wagon. “Nowadays, we’d be thrown in jail,” Abbie said about the kids riding freely in the back of the wagon. “We decided to go to Canada, and when we got there, we got in and then turned back around.” Many years later, the wife of Abbie’s nephew David wrote a newspaper article about the trip. “I don’t remember how Canada got brought up, but David said ‘I sure would like to take a trip there sometime,’” the article reported. “Uncle Ed (Abbie’s husband) replied ‘Well, let’s do it.’”
COVID-19 updates continue As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, FultonPresbyterianManor.org/ covid-19. In this issue of Community Matters, you’ll find an explanation of the phases of reopening and a flow chart showing all the entities contributing to our reopening plans. u
That simple suggestion launched a series of actions — including rounding up everyone’s birth certificates for entry into another country. “In a short time, David and I, our sons Daniel and Randy, along with Uncle Ed, Aunt Abbie, and three of their children (Roger, Linda, and Sally) were on our way,” the article explained. “Nine of us and our clothes packed in the old station wagon packed like sardines. We didn’t have seat belts in those days.” Abbie recalled the trip with fondness and laughter. “We went just to say we had been,” Abbie recalled. “We didn’t see nothing but roads — it was like we hadn’t ever left this country. But we stopped a lot of places, and had a lot of fun.”
ADVENTURES – continued on page 2 Fulton Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Adventures – continued from page 1
According to the article, the crew stopped in Minnesota to take photos of the famous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox attractions before making their way westward. “We spent the night there, and Randy said he remembers it as the first time to be in a real shower,” the article read. “None of us had indoor plumbing at the time.” After entering Manitoba briefly, they returned to the United States and ventured out to North Dakota and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The family enjoyed a day at Mount Rushmore and watched the wildlife at Custer State Park. “We saw our first herd of buffalo in the Black Hills,” the article said. “It scared us all when cousin Roger tried to catch a baby buffalo … We saw a number of different wildlife in the protected area of the national park. Daniel and Randy were convinced they could catch a prairie dog as they were everywhere, but the little creatures managed to duck in their tunnels just in time to escape.”
The story of Abbie’s family adventure to Canada was documented in the local newspaper.
Abbie said adventures like this weren’t uncommon when her
kids were young. Loading up for one trip or another was a way to keep life interesting for her and her family. Today those adventures are the stories that bring laughter to others.
“I’ve lived around here all my life. Everyone knows who we are,” Abbie said. “I’ve been here (Fulton) for seven years, and I’ve gotten to know just about everyone, in fact a lot of our old friends are here. They know I’ve got stories.” u
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FULTON Presbyterian Manor
573-642-6646 u Fax: 573-642-2202 811 Center St. Fulton, MO 65251-1922 FultonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2020
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Fulton Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: dsmith2@pmma.org Dawn Smith, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Stay alert for fraud during the coronavirus national emergency Con artists like to take advantage of people when they’re distracted. Con artists may try to get your Medicare Number or personal information so they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. Protect yourself from Medicare fraud. Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card. Remember: Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare Number or other personal information unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything. You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare Number. Don’t do it. Medicare will never visit you at your home. Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first.
Do’s
Don’t give your personalized numbers to anyone you aren’t sure should have it.
Know what a Medicare plan can and can’t do before you join.
Contact your doctor to request a service that you don’t need.
Don’ts
Check regularly for Medicare billing fraud.
Give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it.
Protect your Medicare Number and your Social Security Number.
Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
Use a calendar to record all of your doctor’s appointments and any tests you get.
Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.
Learn more about Medicare and recent scams.
Review your Medicare claims and Medicare Summary Notices for any services billed to your Medicare Number you don’t recognize. Review your Medicare Summary Notices for errors and report anything suspicious to Medicare. Compare the dates and services on your calendar with the statements
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OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Fraud – continued from page 1
If you think a charge is incorrect and you get from Medicare to make sure you know the provider, you may want you got each service listed and that to call their office to ask about it. The person you speak to may help you all the details are correct. better understand the services or These include the “Medicare supplies you got, or they may realize a Summary Notice” (MSN) if you billing error was made. have Original Medicare , or similar statements from your plan if you’re If you’ve contacted the provider and you suspect that Medicare is being in a Medicare Advantage charged for health care you didn’t get, Plan. They list the services you got or you don’t know the provider on the or prescriptions you filled. claim, find out how to report fraud. Check your claims early—the sooner you see and report errors, the Report anything suspicious to sooner you can help stop fraud. Log Medicare. If you suspect fraud, call 1800-MEDICARE. into MyMedicare.gov to view your Original Medicare claims as soon as You can report suspected Medicare they’re processed, or call us at 1-800- fraud by: MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Calling us at 1-800-MEDICARE Check the receipts and statements (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call you get from providers for mistakes. 1-877-486-2048.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2020
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, call the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379). Have this information before you report fraud: • Your name and Medicare Number. • The provider’s name and any identifying information you may have. • The service or item you’re questioning and when it was supposedly given or delivered. • The payment amount approved and paid by Medicare. • The date on your Medicare Summary Notice or claim. u