A Message From Joseph H. Vicari:Freeholder Director

As the Freeholder Advocate for the Ocean CountyOffice of Senior Services, I am keenly aware of thestruggles our seniors face trying to meet their basic needsof food, housing, healthcare and transportation while on afixed income. As the longest standing Freeholder in theState, I have consistently and staunchly advocated to protect benefits for Older Adults including Social Securityand Medicare as so many of our residents rely on them tomake ends meet. Needless to say, I was disappointed tolearn of the 1.6% COLA increase recently announced bythe Social Security Administration. The slight increase our

older adults will see in their Social Security checks is insufficient to cover the rising costof food, shelter, healthcare and utilities and will undoubtedly cause an even greater hardship for the thousands of seniors in Ocean County that rely on these benefits as theirsole source of income. As we enter the new year, I want to assure our senior residentsthat I intend to be a strong advocate for changes in the formula for determining COLAunder the Social Security Act and to fight to protect and enhance existing programs andbenefits that improve the quality of life for our seniors.The goal of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services is to provide our older adults

with the programs and services needed to live out their golden years at home and in theircommunities surrounded by family and friends with the dignity and independence theydeserve. As the Freeholder in charge of the department of Senior Services, I willcontinue to advocate for the funding necessary to achieve this goal and to be the voiceof older adults in our county.

Ocean County Office of Senior ServicesThe One-Stop CenterP.O. Box 21911027 Hooper Ave., Bldg. 2, First FloorToms River, New Jersey 08754-2191

Ocean CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders

Virginia E. HainesJohn P. KellyGerry P. LittleGary Quinn

Joseph H. VicariCarl W. Block, Administrator

Ocean County Office of Senior Services

Joseph H. VicariFreeholder Director

Maria La Face, Directorwww.co.ocean.nj.us

“Making it Easier For Seniors To Choose Services” Printed by the Ocean County Printing & Graphic Arts Department Freeholder John P. Kelly, Liaison

January/February 2020 Newsletter

The One-Stop Center1027 Hooper Ave., Bldg. 2, First Floor

(732) 929-2091 • 1-877-222-3737 • 1-800-668-4899

The One-Stop Center1027 Hooper Ave., Bldg. 2, First Floor

(732) 929-2091 • 1-877-222-3737 • 1-800-668-4899

The One-Stop Center1027 Hooper Ave., Bldg. 2, First Floor

(732) 929-2091 • 1-877-222-3737 • 1-800-668-4899

Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari

SAVE THE DATEOcean County Foundation for Vocational Technical Educationwill be hosting their 2nd Annual Music on the Green Festivalon Saturday, June 13, 2020. More details to follow!

You may have heard rumblingsabout Census 2020 or seen literature or posters in yourcommunity. Most of us give littlethought to what it means to becounted in the census. The truth isOcean County stands to lose bigif we fail to achieve a completeand accurate count of our residents. Simply put, the censusis about influence and money.

The Federal government distributes over $700 billion dollars to states and local governmentsbased on the census including programs for older adults and their caregivers. The census alsodetermines the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and theinfluence we have on laws and policies that effect our lives here in Ocean County. The Ocean County Office of Senior Services strongly urges residents to participate; you

should receive a postcard in the mail in March. Be sure to respond and be counted!

COUNTDOWN TO CENSUS 2020

MEDICARE PART D OPEN ENROLLMENTA TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

The 2019 Medicare Part D Open Enrollment waswell received this year more so than previous yearswith a significant increase in participants. Althoughspecific figures are not yet available, all outreachoffices reported a significantly busier season this yearthan in years past. The Office of Senior Serviceswould like to extend a special thank you to all of ourSHIP Counselors here in Ocean County. They madesure that all of our Medicare recipients, who requestedcounseling, were seen during this open enrollment. Wewish to additionally thank our volunteers assisting at

the County Connection for Part D days, where the demand was so great that we hadto add an extra day! This added day allowed everyone to be accommodated andeven contributed to an increase of clients seen by nearly 25 percent over last year!For additional outreach efforts, we also took to the road this year, providing indi-vidual counseling sessions in Plumsted and Jackson Townships as well as PreferredBehavioral Health in Lakewood. Once again, thank you to all involved for anothersuccessful Medicare Part D Open Enrollment!

Create an emergency supply kit for your car to include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. Keep the gas tank full.Learn the signs of and basic treatments for frostbite and hypothermia.

Survive DURINGStay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warmclothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors andaway from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away.Check on neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.

RECOGNIZE AND RESPONDFrostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes. • Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin• Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.

Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. • Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness• Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first - chest, neck,head, and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Adapted from a message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

SNOWSTORMS &EXTREME COLDSNOWSTORMS &EXTREME COLD

MEDICARE: GET YOUR ANSWERS ALL YEARFREE, UNBIASED AND CONFIDENTIAL!

Those same SHIP counselors mentioned earlier are available to help thosenew to the program:

3Are you 65 or older?3Are you over 55 and retiring soon?3Are you an individual living with disabilities and your Medicarewill be starting soon?

Our SHIP counselors are available to explain this information to you soplease do not hesitate to contact them at 732-929-2091 or 1-800-668-4899.

ATTENTION! PAAD AND SENIOR GOLD BENEFICIARIESEffective January 1, 2020, income limits for PAAD and Senior Goldincreased. See below and feel free to contact our office for more details.

SNOWSTORMS &EXTREME COLDSNOWSTORMS &EXTREME COLD

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbonmonoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms and blizzardscan bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. A winter storm can:

Last a few hours or several days;Knock out heat, power, and communication services; andPlace older adults, young children, and sick individuals at greater risk.

IF YOU ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING, FIND SHELTER RIGHT AWAYStay off roads.Stay indoors and dress warmly.Prepare for power outages.Use generators outside only and away from windows.Listen for emergency information and alerts.Look for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.Check on neighbors.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A WINTER STORM THREATENS:Prepare NOW

Know your area’s risk for winter storms. Extreme winter weather can leave communities without utilities or other services for long periods of time.Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of freezing weather and winter storms. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Do not forget the needs of pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.

Pharmaceutical Assistance forthe Aged and Disabled (PAAD)

Senior Gold PrescriptionDiscount Program

Income limit: Less than $28,399 (single)Less than $34,817 (married)

* PAAD copay is $5 for coveredgeneric drugs and $7 for covered brand name drugs.

Income limit: $28,399 -$38,399 (single)$34,817-$44,817 (married)

Senior Gold copay again for covered drugs is $15 + 50% of theremaining cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION and its INSPECTOR GENERAL

ANNOUNCE NEW ONLINE REPORTING FORMfor IMPOSTER SCAM CALLS

The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration announcedthe launch of a dedicated online form at https://oig.ssa.gov to receivereports from the public about Social Security-related scams.

These scams in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into makingcash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Securitynumber problems skyrocketed over the past year and have become the#1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and theSocial Security Administration.

To combat these scams, Social Security and the OIG will use the newonline form to capture data that will be analyzed for trends and commonalities. The OIG will use the data to identify investigativeleads, which could help identify criminal entities or individualsparticipating in or facilitating the scams. Ultimately, these efforts areexpected to disrupt the scammers, help reduce this type of fraud, andreduce the number of victims.

We encourage the public to use the new online form to report SocialSecurity phone scams including robocalls and live callers, as well asemail, text, and in-person scams. The form allows people to create aunique Personal Identification Number (PIN), so if OIG contacts a person about their report, they will know the call is legitimate.

Social Security employees do occasionally contact people, generallythose who have ongoing business with the agency, by telephone forbusiness purposes. However, Social Security employees will never

threaten a person, or promise a Social Security benefit approval orincrease, in exchange for information or money. In those cases, the callis fraudulent and people should just hang up.

Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently appliedfor a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receivingpayments and requires an update to their record, or a person who hasrequested a phone call from the agency. If a person is not in one of thesesituations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency.

Social Security WILL NOT:Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.Contact you to demand an immediate payment.Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.

If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record,in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs tosubmit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter withinstructions and payment options. People should never provide informationor payment over the phone or Internet unless they are certain of who isreceiving it.

The Social Security OIG will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste,and abuse in Social Security’s programs and operations. A separateonline form for those reports remains available at their website.

Adapted from a message from the Social Security Administration.