Q: Recently you wrote an article on falls and provided some simple steps that can be taken to help make your home safer. Are you aware of any upcoming seminars that address this subject?

A: Yes I do. The Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition of Ventura County is hosting an event, “Healthy Aging: How to Prevent Falls,” on Sept. 26.

The event will be at Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park Community Center Auditorium, 1605 E. Burnley St. in Camarillo.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the forum is from noon to 3 p.m. Speakers include Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long; Dr. Thomas Duncan, trauma medical co-director at Ventura County Medical Center; and Sheila Cluff, owner and founder of The Oaks at Ojai.

There will be vendor/sponsor tables, refreshments and raffle prizes. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 477-7343.

Q: If I remember correctly it is about this time of year that Medicare has its annual open enrollment. Can you provide the dates?

A: Medicare annual open enrollment will start Oct. 15 and run through Dec. 7.

During this period you can change the coverage you have from Medicare-fee-for-Service to a Senior Advantage Plan, from a Senior Advantage Plan to Medicare-fee-for-Service, or from one Senior Advantage Plan to another.

This is the time when you should also review your Medicare Part D – Prescription Drug Plan. Each year insurance companies, formularies and co-pays, deductibles and monthly premiums change. The annual open enrollment period is the time to review the coverage you have and compare it to what will be available.

This review should be done every year to ensure you have the best coverage for the least amount of money.

Seminars and one-stop-shops will be scheduled throughout the county starting now through the six weeks of open enrollment.

The seminars will review Medicare coverage in general and answer any questions attendees may have. These seminars will also provide information about any changes that will take place in 2015.

Attendees who want assistance with comparing Part D plans should come to the meeting with a complete list of their prescription drugs, the size of the dosage and how often taken.

At the one-stop-shops individual counseling will be available to review the Part D computer printouts and assist with enrollment in those plans. Other questions about health care coverage including Covered California will also be answered.

Seminars and one-stop-shops are usually held at senior centers or the Area Agency on Aging Offices.

In the weeks to come I will try to provide information on these events about a week in advance of their scheduled dates. Reservations are highly recommended.

HAPPENINGS:

Today: “Whose Responsibility is It — If Not Yours Then Who” seminar, 1:30 p.m. at Westlake Village Civic Center, 31200 E. Oak Crest Drive in Westlake Village.

Friday: “Long Term Care Insurance — Do You Need It? Do You Understand What You Have” seminar, 1:30 p.m. at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. For reservations 381-2744.

Sunday: Fred Stone, painter of horses, presents “Reflections on a Golden Age” as he shares his personal reflections on each great horse in his book. 2 p.m. at the Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $5 and available at the center.

Sept. 28: Goebel Game Day. “How Well Do You Know Your Partner” (based on The Newlywed Game), 2 p.m. at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. For information and reservations call 381-2744.

Oct. 28: Path to Positive Aging Series — “The Final Exit: Creating A Loving Experience for You Both” seminar, 5:30-7 p.m. at Senior Concerns Day Care Center, 401 Hodencamp Road in Thousand Oaks. For more information and reservations call 497-0189.

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