Manor of the Plains
Stay alert for fraud
JULY 2020
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.
• 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. Icyl speaking with her daughter and son-in-law, who live in Canada.
Technology brings residents and families together during pandemic
Even though residents have been restricted from having family and friends visit during the pandemic, technology is making face-to-face time possible, keeping connections safe and meaningful. Resident John Brent has embraced using technology to stay connected with his family. “Technology has impacted my life in a good way, because in other times it would be really hard without something like this. This kind of communication is amazing,” said John. TECH – continued on page 2
• Medicare will never visit you at your home. • Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first. Remember to: • Protect your Medicare Number and your Social Security Number. • Use a calendar to record all of your doctor’s appointments and any tests you get. • Learn more about Medicare and recent scams. FRAUD - continued on page 4
Manor of the Plains | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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TECH – continued from page 1
While he doesn’t have an iPad of his own, John enjoys using the community’s iPads so much he sees a benefit to having one. “When my two daughters or my son want to call me, they contact staff so we can begin the visit. It is always a good feeling when they approach me and say that I have a call from them. When I see the pink iPad, oh my! It’s super and working very well. I would like to have one for myself,” said John. For John, the video chats on the iPad are more than just seeing the faces of his loved ones. “With this technology I am talking, seeing my kids and I can have a tour of their backyard. It brings so much joy to me. Thank you, God, because otherwise we won’t be able to communicate so easy. Thank you to the people that make this possible,” said John. Health care resident Icyl Wood is also benefiting from technology and able to connect with her family, including a daughter as far away as Canada! “Our first call using FaceTime was really good. It was just nice seeing her, and I think she liked that, too. She seemed to be able to hear better, since that’s sometimes a problem on the phone. I know it doesn’t help her dementia to not have contact with people who she
normally would, so it’s good to see her,” said Marsha Reed, Icyl’s daughter. Icyl enjoyed the video chat as well. While she was worried she could do it she shared, “It’s not hard, the employees set it up and it works great. It was so wonderful, and I was able to see my son-in-law also.” While she talks to her other daughter, Marilyn, on the phone, she hopes to see her face on a video chat in the near future. Overall, residents are embracing the use of iPads to stay connected through the pandemic and it’s going better than expected. “I think using the iPads to communicate has made a big difference. Residents are not as anxious since they are able to see their loved ones face to face and know they are OK. So many of our residents worry about their families and I think this gives them reassurance that they’re OK,” said Lisa Montoya, life enrichment director.
Icyl with her son, Richard Wood
To set up a video chat with a loved one, call Manor of the Plains at 620-225-1928 and ask for Life Enrichment Directors Lisa Montoya or Clara Contreras. They will provide an iPad to residents if they don’t have one, along with instructions. ◆ John Brent on the iPad with one of his daughters. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
MANOR PLAINS of the
A PMMA COMMUNITY
620-225-1928 ◆ Fax: 620-225-3982 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 ManorOfThePlains.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: jvanhook@PMMA.org John Van Hook, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Manor of the Plains | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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MANOR PLAINS of the
A PMMA COMMUNITY
200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
FRAUD - continued from page 1
• Know what a Medicare plan can and can’t do before you join. Don’ts: • 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. • Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care. • Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services. • Contact your doctor to request a service that you don’t need.
Check regularly for Medicare billing fraud. 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. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE. ◆
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, ManorOfThePlains.org/covid-19. Get the latest information about visitation and restrictions on deliveries and learn more about PMMA’s infection control efforts to contain COVID-19 across the PMMA system. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2020