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Our Mission Action for Eastern Montana is committed to strengthening and enhancing the quality of life within the

communities we serve by promoting education, advocacy and dignity for achieving self reliance.

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Board Member/ Christmas Wishes 2

Long Term Care 3

New Staff Intro 4

Medicare Info/ WIOA 5

Aging/ Upcoming Events 6

A C T I O N F O R E A S T E R N M O N T A N A

Action 17 Internal Newsletter

CEO Message: Howdy everyone, The Holidays are here again. Action always ramps up with projects around this time and all of these projects are basically volunteers doing what they can to make sure our clients have a Happy Holiday. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for everyone that pitches in to make these projects an absolute success. We do a Coat Drive, Christmas Wishes, and Mid-Rivers Holiday Meal cards. Let’s also not forget our own Christmas Parties and people doing their best to ensure a good time. While we do most of these things for others I want to wish to all of our STAFF much joy during this time of year. We get very caught up in the Season and helping others I just want to say don’t forget to take a little time for yourself too. Sincerely, Clint

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2017 Christmas Wishes Update

The Christmas Wishes Program served 30 families this year. 17 of those families were adopted by community members. 7 cash

donations were made to the program. Thank you to the Commit-tee members, and a huge thank you to Donna W. and Donna B. for their help when the committee members were unavailable!

Board Member Profile: I want to present Dawn Guenzie for this profile. She joined the Board in 2004 as a Private Sector representative for Head Start re-quirements. Dawn is a Glendivian and was a year ahead of me in High School. After several years of being on the Board she was asked to step down as a voting Board Member, so Action could

pursue and attain CHODO status and be eligible for funding related to Housing projects. Due to this designation we could no longer have a member in that Board position employed by the state. Dawn works at the Glendive Job Service and is involved with the Adult Employment and Training program. After stepping down Dawn was gracious enough to remain with our Board as a Consultant and

allow us to lean on her years of experience. So, if you see her around the Action offices please say hello and take some time to converse with this very down to earth Board Consultant. ~ Clint

DID YOU KNOW:

The Action for Eastern Montana Christmas Project was started in December 1994,which is now called Christmas Wishes. That is 23 years (1994-2017) that AEM has been making someone’s Christmas special in Dawson County. Thank you, Dona W.

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A c t i o n 1 7

Long-Term Care Residents Honored During Residents’ Rights Month, October 2017

It’s All About Me: My Life, My Care, My Choices

October was “Residents’ Rights Month,” an annual event designated by Consumer

Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. It is an

opportunity to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect and the rights

of each resident. The federal Nursing Home Reform Law guarantees residents’

rights and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity, choice, and self-

determination. The law also requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the

rights of each resident”. Residents’ Rights Month is a time to raise awareness of

these rights and celebrate residents.

The theme for this year's Residents' Rights Month, "It's All About Me: My Life, My

Care, My Choices," focuses on the respect and dignity of every resident. The

theme highlights residents’ rights to choose their own schedule and activities,

communicate how and with whom they choose, be free from abuse and unsafe

environments, and be treated as an individual with unique wants and

needs. Residents’ Rights Month is a time for staff, families, ombudsmen, residents

and other advocates to focus on resident-directed care and emphasizing the self-

determination, choice, and quality of life of each resident.

The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has worked for more than 30 years to promote residents’ rights daily. More than 8,000 volunteers and 1,000 paid staff are advocates for residents in all 50 states plus the Dis-

trict of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Authorized under the Older Americans Act and administered by the Administration on Aging, the program also

provides information on how to find a facility, conducts community education sessions, and supports residents, their families and the public with one-on-one consultation regarding long-term care.

There is one full-time State Ombudsman, an Assistant State Ombudsman, 3 full- time Regional Ombudsman and approximately 31 certified Local Ombudsman

throughout Montana. The Regional and Local Ombudsmen are employed by the Area Agencies on Aging or the County Council on Aging.

Area I Agency on Aging in Glendive employs four Local Long-Term Care Ombudsmen: Carmen King, Glenna Chapman,

David Swogger and Irina Pulse.

If you or your loved one's have any questions regarding long-term care residents’

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M e e t y o u r A E M T S t a f f

P a g e 4

Kevin Thompson Director of Energy

Donna Underberg LIEAP Technician 9/15/2017

Marymikell Hawkinson Weatherization Records

Manager 8/14/17

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P a g e 5 A c t i o n 1 7

Medicare Open Enrollment Medicare is health insurance for residents of the US or qualified aliens who are age 65 and older. Medicare is also available for people under 65 who have End Stage Renal Disease, ALS, asbestos related lung disease, or a disability and have received Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability bene-fits for 24 months. The annual open enrollment period for Medicare D (prescription drug plans) and Medicare Advantage plans started October 15 and ended December 7 to change your plan effective January 1, 2018. Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can restructure their benefits. They are allowed to change their premium cost, deductibles, copayments and what drugs they will cover. Action’s drug plan is as good as or better than the Medicare Part D drug plans, so if you have Medicare and Action’s drug plan you do not need to change your drug plan to a Medicare prescription drug plan. You will not receive a penalty because you did not join a Medicare prescription drug plan as long as you stay on Action’s drug plan. If you know someone on Medicare and has questions, have them contact Heather (345– 2120) or Marilyn (345– 2121) and they should be able to help them.

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The GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON AGING held in Glendive on Sept 12th and 13th was a great success! Thanks to Kevin, Doug, Billy and Mouse in our Weatherization Department; to Donna Wolf and my staff for help setting up tables and chairs. 163 people attended the conference and the speakers were great, especially our own Glenia Chapman, an AAA Long Term Care Ombudsman in Mills City who spoke on Alzheimer’s and other

dementias.

Winter Tips A spray solution of 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part water works extremely well as a de-icer for windshields. In the winter, make sure your ceiling fan spins clockwise to push warm rising air back down into the room.

T h i n g s t o k n o w - t h i n g s t o

s h a r e

January 15th– Martin Luther King Jr. Day, AEM Closed

February

2nd– Groundhog Day 9th– No Head Start

14th– Valentines Day 19th– Presidents Day, AEM Closed

March

11th– Daylight Savings Begins 17th– St. Patrick’s Day 20th– Spring Begins!!!

15th, 16th, & 30th– No Head Start

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Montana Delegates Info Sen. Steve Daines 320 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510 www.daines.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224-2651 Sen. Jon Tester 311 Hart Senate

Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510 www.tester.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224-2644 Rep. Greg Gianforte 1419 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C., 20515 www.gianforte.house.gov

Phone: 202-225-3211

Action for Eastern Montana Headquarters

2030 North Merrill Avenue

P.O. Box 1309

Glendive, MT 59330

Aging I&A Services in Miles City 234-8028 Senior Companion In Miles City 433-4967

Aging Fax in Miles City 234-0448 Head Start In Miles City 234-5223

Aging Ombudsman in Miles City 234-3935 Head Start in Glendive 377-3009

Aging Services in Glasgow 228-9751 Head Start Glasgow 228-2404

Weatherization in Miles City 234-8027 Head Start in Malta 654-2005

Senior Companion in Sidney 433-4967

Helping People in a Fix since 1966!