Lawrence Community Matters February 2019

Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® issues call for entries Lawrence Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held February 12-19, 2019. The exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reception will take place at 2:30 p.m. on February 20.

Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete to be featured in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar.

Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2014). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging may be dropped off beginning February 1 at the business office and need to be at Presbyterian Manor by February 10.

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February 2019

Our library committee keeps around 500 books organized, and patrons enjoy reading and discussing books. Back row, from left: Esther Kinsey, Effie Simmons, Carol Ann Vernon, Mary Burchill. Front row, from left: Dottie Daugherty and Jo Doles

Back to the books After working as associate director for the law library at the University of Kansas for 15 years, resident Mary Burchill was pleasantly surprised to find herself working back in a library in retirement.

“We moved into Lawrence Presbyterian Manor in late 2000, and it was probably 2002 when I was asked to be in charge of the library committee here. I am a librarian, so I thought sure, I’d be delighted,” said Mary Burchill.

Once a month, Mary and her library committee of six other residents meet to discuss any problems that have arisen in the library.

“There aren’t many, but the main thing is keeping the books in order. We go through the books and do our library stuff and then we sit around and talk about books. It’s great fun! It’s a good group that enjoys reading, reads a lot and has real ideas about how we should do things,” said Mary.

With an estimated 500 books covering everything from romance to adventure and suspense to religion, there’s a good chance you’ll find something you’ll enjoy reading at our community library.

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The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions.

Local competition winners will join winners from 16 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities systemwide judging.

Entry forms and information can be picked up at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, 1429 Kasold Drive, Lawrence, or by contacting Curtis Jones at 785-841-4262 or cjones@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online.

In Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, we have partnered with Pinnacle Quality Insight. This company will periodically contact the people we serve via telephone to conduct an interview regarding their impression of our service. We use this feedback as a tool to continually improve our quality of care and enhance our relationships.

When you are contacted to participate in the survey, they will always identify themselves specifically as being with Pinnacle Quality Insight.

All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service.

We greatly value your opinions and encourage you to be frank and honest when contacted.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Christie Patrick, executive director Curtis Jones, marketing director To submit or suggest articles, contact cjones@pmma.org.

Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

LawrencePresbyterianManor.org

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Community Matters February 2019

“Books are filed alphabetically by author. We don’t have a number system, we have sections: biography, fiction, non-fiction and a small section on Kansas. The other category we have we call ‘memoirs’ —remembrances people in Presbyterian Manor that have been donated to us. I encourage residents who have written anything like that to give it to us,” said Mary.

To check out a book, simply sign out a title in the notebook. When you return it, cross it out. “We don’t have any due dates,” Mary added.

Interested in a particular book?

“We have incredible service from the public library. They come to the community once a week for an hour and bring books people have put a hold on. He’ll bring a selection of

books—around 75—both small and large print, and he does a great job figuring out what people will want to read. It’s a great service,” said Mary.

That’s not the only great thing about the library, according to Mary.

“We don’t throw any books away.”

The committee goes through the donated books and chooses which ones will be added to the collection.

The rest are either sold to the Dusty Bookshelf, donated to the Friends of the Library sale or put on a bookcase for staff and residents to bring one/ take one.

As we celebrate Library Month in February, we want to thank Mary and her committee for maintaining our library and giving us a variety of great books to read!

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Medicare Advantage enrollment This year, 2019, is a huge year for Medicare beneficiaries. There will be many changes and most of them are beneficial. In 2010, lawmakers did away with the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage plans. The 21st Century Cures Act means that now they are bringing it back, starting January 1.

If you’re Medicare eligible and enrolled in a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, you need to make changes to your Part D Prescription Drug plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP) October 15 through December 7 of every year.

Beneficiaries need to know

This Open Enrollment Period began January 1 and will end on March 31. Each year by September 30, Medicare Advantage plan recipients During this time beneficiaries get receive an Annual Notice of Change a one-time opportunity to change (ANOC) and Evidence of Coverage from Medicare Advantage plan to (EOC) from their existing insurance another Medicare Advantage plan. carrier for their Medicare Advantage You could also disenroll for the and Medicare Prescription drug plan Medicare Advantage program all providers. together and switch to Traditional As a Medicare recipient residing in Medicare.

Missouri or Kansas, the best thing Return of the open enrollment you can do is make changes during period AEP, changes that you’ll be pleased with for the following year.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period will replace the Part A premium increases Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Approximately 99% of beneficiaries Period (MADP) that used to be won’t have to pay a Medicare Part A from January 1 until February 14. premium.

The new Medicare changes of 2019 You should notice an increase if: will make possible changing from the subpar Medicare Advantage plan • If you have fewer than 40 quarters to a more suitable plan. of employment or you’re disabled.

During the enrollment period, beneficiaries will get a one-time opportunity to change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan.You may also disenroll for the Medicare Advantage program all together and switch to Traditional Medicare, with or without a Part D Prescription Drug plan.

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Anyone that has exhausted other entitlement will pay the full premium, which increased by $15.

The new premium is $437 a month for 2019.

• If you had a minimum of 30 quarters or were married to someone with 30 quarters of coverage.

If you have 30 quarters of coverage you may buy into Part A at a lowered monthly fee, which would be $240 in 2019, an $8 increase.

This is because you are technically voluntarily enrolled into Part A. Part A deductible increases The Part A deductible increased by $24, for a total of $1,340 in 2019.

• Beneficiaries with only Medicare as their coverage will be expected to pay the $1,340 when they are admitted to the hospital.

If you have Original Medicare, you’ll be expected to pay a coinsurance amount of $341 per day for the 61st through 90th day of hospitalization in 2019.

For lifetime reserve days, the amount increased to $682 per day.

If you or a loved one is in a skilled nursing facility, you can expect the daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of extended care services in a benefit period to be $170.50 in 2019. This is an increase of $3.

Part B premium increases Part B premium for 2019 will be $135.50, which is only an increase of $1.50.

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Lawrence Presbyterian Manor 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Return Service Requested

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CMS has added a high-income bracket, if your income is $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for a married couple) then you will pay $460.50 a month for Part B in 2019.

Part B deductible increase The Part B deductible will increase $2 and become $185 in 2019.

Beneficiaries with a Medicare Supplement Plan C or Plan F have coverage for this deductible and won’t be subject to its costs.

Medicare Advantage plan enrollees have low copays and deductibles that shouldn’t increase with the Part B deductible.

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Community Matters February 2019

First dollar coverage plans are going away in 2020 In order to reduce healthcare spending, Medicare is eliminating 1st dollar coverage plans come 2020. This includes Plan C and Plan F. First dollar coverage plans are Medicare Supplement plans that allow beneficiaries to not pay anything out of pocket.

These plans cover all copayments and deductibles associated with Original Medicare.

Studies have shown beneficiaries using more healthcare services when

enrolled in a first dollar coverage plan. The theory is that beneficiaries will go less often for minor things if they must pay something to go see the doctor.

If you’re on one of these plans, you’ll be grandfathered in. However, come 2020 your premiums may increase due to no new enrollees.

Instead of Plan C, Plan N is recommended. Instead of Plan F, Plan G is recommended.

The income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) impacts about 5 percent of people with Medicare Part B. Like us on Facebook