Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
Jim Shulman, Executive Director

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is presenting a conference focused on the impact that aging has on the brain. A number of speakers, both healthcare professionals and social workers, will discuss the changes and challenges that Tennessee adults experience as they age. For more information, including a list of speakers and information on registration and location, please see the conference brochure.

This event will take place on June 10, 2013. The registration deadline is June 3.

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) has reached a milestone. TCAD has provided services to the aging population for 50 years. In celebration of its anniversary and as TCAD prepares for the future, TCAD is taking on the task of re-evaluating its programs and services to make certain that they continue to be efficient and cost effective.

Please accept our invitation to review the current draft and offer any comments prior to the public hearing on May 7, 2013. Your comments may be emailed to Kathy.Zamata@tn.gov.

Many Tennessee seniors struggle to get enough healthy food. Learn what people in one Tennessee county are doing to address senior hunger, and get tips and information for doing the same thing in your own community.

Looking for a meaningful, fulfilling volunteer opportunity with the aging and disabled population? TN SHIP has volunteer opportunities for you to assist consumers with understanding their Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Training is available across the state. See our events calendar for training near you.

*Training for counselors has been added for July 10 -11, 2013. See the poster for more details, including contact information.

Medicare open enrollment has ended, but it is still important to keep in mind potential scams that tend to arise during the enrollment season. Watch out for "door-to-door salespersons." Insurance agents cannot solicit business for Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage without an appointment, so unscheduled sales meetings are probably a scam. CMS suggests that people not let uninvited guests into their home to give any kind of sales pitch. Medicare has no official sales reps, so anyone claiming to be one has no authorization through the government agency. Four tips for preventing identity theft and open season fraud include:

• Protect your Medicare number. Don't give it out, except to your doctor or other healthcare provider.
• Never give your Medicare number in exchange for a special offer.
• Medicare will never contact you and ask for personal information, like your Medicare or bank account numbers.
• Never let someone use your Medicare card and never use another person's card.

The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability brings together and leverages programs, resources, and organizations to protect and ensure the quality of life and independence of older Tennesseans and adults with disabilities.