Announcements – Chatham County Council on Aging

Chatham County Public Health Department Partners with StarMed Healthcare to Host Weekly COVID-19 Testing Events

October 21, 2020

PITTSBORO, NC – The Chatham County Public Health Department is working with StarMed Healthcare and the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) to host two weekly and recurring COVID-19 testing events in Chatham County as the public health department continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

StarMed will offer nasal swab PCR tests for no cost and optional rapid blood antibody tests for $50 at each. Testing events will be held the following days and location, beginning Thursday, October 22nd:

- Mondays (beginning October 26th): 12:30-4:30 p.m., Chatham Central High School, 14950 N.C. Highway 902, Bear Creek (PDF flyers: English, Español)

- Thursdays (next event October 22nd): 12:30-4:30 p.m., Northwood High School, 310 Northwood High School Road, Pittsboro (PDF flyers: English, Español)

The PCR test tells individuals whether they currently have COVID-19. These tests are available at no cost to individuals and are covered either by their insurance or NC DHHS through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Results are sent in three days on average via text message and/or e-mail.

The rapid blood antibody test tells individuals whether they have been infected with COVID-19 in the past. Results will be available within 15 minutes of being administered. Individuals are charged $50 for antibody tests at the time of testing.

Text the word “COVID” to (704) 850-6996 to pre-register and complete your virtual visit to reduce wait time for testing. Patients can also register onsite and be screened by a provider.

“We are grateful for this partnership with NC DHHS and StarMed to expand no-cost COVID-19 testing in Chatham County. Testing is an important component of our response efforts, and this initiative complements other testing options in our community,” said Mike Zelek, Chatham County Interim Public Health Director. “I have participated in one of these testing events myself, and encourage residents, particularly those who have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms, to take advantage of these resources and get tested.”

In addition to testing, the Chatham County Public Health Department urges all to continue to consistently practice the 3 Ws: Wear a face covering, wait six feet apart from others and wash your hands often.

“Just last week, our state hit record highs in the number of new daily cases. This is very concerning, but we have the tools to keep ourselves healthy while doing the activities we enjoy: Practice the 3 Ws, get tested and stay home if you are ill or have been exposed to the virus, and get your flu shot,” added Zelek.

A full list of Chatham County’s testing sites, along with information on the types of COVID-19 tests, the role of contact tracing and more resources, can be found online at chathamnc.org/coronavirustesting. Learn more about Chatham County’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in English at chathamnc.org/coronavirus, in Spanish at chathamnc.org/coronavirusespanol and facebook.com/chathamhealth.

The COA Brings Birthday Cheer to Local Nonagenarians

October 12, 2020

The Chatham County Council on Aging took the show on the road to bring birthday celebrations to local seniors celebrating their 90th+ birthdays. These birthday parades offered a bright, cheerful surprise to seniors. Check out some highlights below!

(Special thanks to the Chatham Sheriff's Office for joining us for the festivities!)

SHIIP Pre-enrollment forms now available

October 7, 2020

The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counsels Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and long-term care insurance. The counselors offer free and unbiased information regarding Medicare health care products. Open enrollment is October 15-December 7 every year. Call Tydelia Hunt, Chatham County’s SHIIP Volunteer Coordinator, for general information and appointments at 919-742-3975.

Open enrollment is October 15-December 7

Due to COVID 19, procedures have changed for Open Enrollment for 2020. If you need help comparing and/or changing your Part D Drug Plan, please see the Pre- Enrollment form linked below. You may complete the form on your own and fax it or drop it off at one of the two Senior Centers. You may also call one of the two Senior Centers and ask for SHIIP and a staff member to help you complete the form over the phone. Complete directions are on the top of the form. Once the form has been completed and received at the Senior Centers, a SHIIP volunteer counselor will call you and schedule your phone session. If you prefer an in person counseling session, the COA will help you connect with trained SHIIP counselors at Piedmont Health in Siler City or Moncure.

Pre-Enrollment Form

Insurance Commissioner Reminds Medicare Beneficiaries to Compare Plans During Open Enrollment

October 5, 2020

RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reminds Medicare beneficiaries to compare and evaluate their current plans and make necessary changes during the annual Open Enrollment Period. Medicare plans and prices change. It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of the Open Enrollment Period by contacting local Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors to save money, improve your coverage or both.

The Open Enrollment Period begins on Oct. 15, 2020 and runs for eight weeks to give you enough time to review and make changes to your Medicare coverage. Changes must be made by Dec. 7, 2020 to guarantee your coverage will begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2021.

It’s important to contact your local SHIIP counselor before making a decision about coverage because you may be able to receive more affordable and better Medicare health and/or drug plan options in your area. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, there may be another plan in your area that covers your health care and/or drugs at a better price.

SHIIP is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance and offers free, unbiased information about Medicare, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and other health insurance issues. In addition to helping Medicare beneficiaries compare and enroll in plans during the Open Enrollment Period, SHIIP counselors can help people find out if they are eligible for Medicare cost savings programs.

Here are some of the ways to review and compare plans available for 2021:

• Get one-on-one help from your local SHIIP office by calling the Western or Eastern Chatham Senior Centers at 919-742-3975 or 919-542-4572.
• Get one-on-one help from SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, by calling 1-855-408-1212, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also request in-person assistance in your home county.
• Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.
• Review the Medicare & You handbook. It was mailed to people with Medicare in September.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For more information about SHIIP and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, call 1-855-408-1212 or visit www.ncshiip.com.

COA Survey for Chatham Residents age 50+

August 11, 2020

Dear Council on Aging Friends,

The Chatham Council on Aging is conducting a survey to inform our programming and outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We currently provide programming available online and over the phone. We want to hear your thoughts about our programming, what else you would like to see, what technology you have to access the programming, and how else you would like to stay connected.

This survey is open to those age 50+ in Chatham. Most of our programming serves people age 60+, but some programming serves those over 50 and we want this survey to be as inclusive as possible.

Please share this survey link broadly! Even if you have not yet participated in Council on Aging/Senior Center programming, please complete the survey so we know what seniors in Chatham want.

You can take the survey online here: https://bit.ly/ChathamCoA It should take 10-15 minutes.

If you have questions or need assistance with this survey, please contact: Liz Lahti at (919) 542-4512 x 228 or liz.lahti@chathamcoa.org.

Please take the survey by August 20th. If you complete the survey and share your contact information, we will have a drawing and you might be the lucky one to receive 1 of 2 gift cards provided by a donor (each worth $25.)

Enter your text here...

It has never been easier to prepare a Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will.

July 28, 2020

It has never been easier to prepare a Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will. Through Friday, July 31st, documents may be prepared with a Notary Public without witnesses. Emergency laws make that possible, but time is short.

Under ordinary circumstances, we recommend that adults--especially those at greater risk--share values and preferences, what they want and don't and whom they designate to speak for them if they cannot. Present circumstances are far from ordinary.

Documents adjusted for the emergency law are available on the Secretary of State website, https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/advance_healthcare_directives.
Can't find a Notary Public? Go to the Secretary of State's website to find a Notary near you. Go to https://www.sosnc.gov/online_services/notary/find_a_notary for more information.
Notary-only documents are valid after August 1st; however, they must be executed before August 1st, 2020, under the terms of the NC COVID-19 Recovery Bill.
Starting August 1st, the two-qualified-witnesses-and-a-notary requirement applies again, although video witnessing and notarization, in compliance with the rules, is permitted before March 1, 2021.
In-person notarization and witnessing is permitted under the law (indeed, it's normally required), though special care must be taken under present circumstances and may not be possible for all situations. Guidance on how to practice social distancing in this context is provided at https://www.sosnc.gov/imaging/dime/webportal/55344150.pdf.
Documents may be registered with the Advance Health Care Directives Registry. For more information go to https://www.sosnc.gov/frequently_asked_questions/by_title/_advance_healthcare_directives or PDF [Brochure attached].

Seeking Your Help for a Study about Discharge from the Emergency Room

May 6, 2020

A nursing research student, Karen Valcheff, from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro is interested in your discharge experience from the emergency room.

You can be in this study if you are:
 65 years of age or older
 Have been discharged from the emergency room within the past one to four weeks to home, a skilled nursing facility or an assisted living placement.

Being in the study involves a 30-45-minute telephone interview. Mrs. Valcheff would like to talk to you about your experience with your discharge plan. Participation is voluntary and strictly confidential.

To learn more about the study, please call her at (814) 619 6085 or email her at klvalche@uncg.edu. If you choose to participate you will receive a $25 gift card.