Area Agency on Aging of East Texas to Reopen Senior Meal Sites to the Public
Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • July 12, 2021
The Area Agency on Aging of East Texas
(AAA) is pleased to announce the reopening of senior centers serving congregate meals
in Camp, Marion, Harrison, Rains, and Wood counties starting on July 12. The meal sites closed to the public in March of 2020 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, the AAA continued serving clients in the senior nutrition program by offering meals through delivery or pickup.
The AAA expends about $2.4 million for the senior nutrition program annually in East Texas, serving approximately 4,000 seniors. We contract with the Meals on Wheels Ministry of Tyler to serve six counties, the Meals on Wheels of Palestine for three counties, and the AAA serves as a direct provider for six counties. The program provides nutritious meals to older individuals (60 and over) through congregate meal sites and home-delivered meals.
AAA meal sites reopening on July 12:
Marshall Senior Center Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
106 E. Crockett Street
Marshall, TX 75670
Marshall #2 Senior Center Open Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Oak Leaf Apartments - 113 Oakley Dr.
Marshall, TX 75670
Jefferson Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
111 W. Broadway
Jefferson, TX 75657
UT Health Pittsburg
Open Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
2701 U.S. Highway 271 N.
Pittsburg, TX 75686
Emory Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
179 Doris Briggs Pkwy.
Emory, TX 75440
Waskom Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
165 Texas Ave.
Waskom, TX 75692
*Reopened June 14*
Yantis Senior Center
Open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
100 City Circle
Yantis, TX 75497
"Our hearts go out to our participants who have faced illness, death, and the loss of loved ones during the pandemic. We are grateful to the staff at the senior nutrition sites, which continued to serve our seniors," said ETCOG's Director of Aging, Bettye Mitchell. "This program is vital to help reduce social isolation of those who are homebound or in rural areas. Many of our clients use the congregate meal sites to engage with other seniors through games, conversations, and activities, so we are excited to reopen and bring seniors together to reconnect."
Find out if you are eligible for the senior nutrition program by calling 1-800-442-8845. The AAA offers sponsored public transportation to the senior centers through a partnership with GoBus.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 until December 7, and people with Medicare will have more coverage options to consider. Plan costs and covered benefits have changed, so our Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA) is offering benefits counseling assistance to encourage Medicare recipients to review their coverage choices and decide on the options that best fit their health needs. The changes Medicare recipients can make during Open Enrollment include: Joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare (with or without a Part D plan) “Medicare Open Enrollment allows you the opportunity to review your healthcare plan and check on your financial well-being, which could also help save costs and coverage,” says AAA Benefits Counselor Nellie Spencer. “Call us and talk to an unbiased, qualified Benefits Counselor. We are also your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and available free of charge to go over your options.” For assistance, please call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-442-8845 to speak to a qualified benefits counselor. Appointments can be made over the phone, in a virtual meeting, or in person. Local Open Enrollment presentations: Benefits counselors will also be available for appointments at these community events during the Open Enrollment period. To reserve your spot, call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-442-8845. Walk-ins will be accepted. Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living, 421 Avenue A, Palestine, TX Date: Tuesday, November 4th Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm George Washington Carver Community Center, 2303 Holland St., Marshall, TX Date: Thursday, November 6th Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, 104 State Hwy. 64, Ben Wheeler, TX Date: Thursday, November 13th Time: 1:00 pm-3:30 pm First Christian Church, 1920 Beaumont St., Jacksonville, TX Date: Thursday, November 20th Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm Be on alert for these Medicare Open Enrollment scams: There are no "limited time offers." Medicare or a health plan calls and wants to send you a new health card for $299. You receive a call about a refund from last year's premiums or your drug plan cost. An agent tries to sign you up for a plan that you don't need, isn't right for you, or doesn't even exist. Watch out for fake RX cards offering significant discounts with little or no benefits. You receive a call offering significant discounts on a new health insurance plan. Agents can NOT cold call you. Tips on how to stop fraud during Open Enrollment: If it's "too good to be true," it probably is. Don't trust all the ads you see on TV. Review the plan BEFORE you join. Even if you're not switching, review your current plan to ensure it covers your doctors. Medicare will never call or visit. Medicare will only send information via postal mail service. Guard your Medicare card and number like a credit card. Don't give out your Medicare number except to your doctor or other providers. Don't let someone push you into making a fast decision. If you receive a call, especially from a number you do not recognize or anyone requesting personal information, hang up immediately. Know your health care options. Get help from your family, the Medicare website, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which for East Texas is the AAA. No health care plan is allowed to cold call. Medicare plans can be viewed and compared at www.medicare.gov .
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrian Cornejo as the new Director of the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA). In this role, Cornejo will lead efforts to develop and coordinate services that support the health, independence, and quality of life of older adults across ETCOG’s fourteen-county region. Cornejo brings a strong background in healthcare leadership and military service. He most recently worked as an Account Manager for Humana’s Institutional Special Needs Plan program, where he partnered with skilled nursing facilities to improve care coordination, leading to a 20% reduction in hospital readmissions. Earlier in his career, Cornejo served in the United States Navy for nearly two decades, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer and managing budgets exceeding $550 million while leading more than 350 Sailors and Marines. “Adrian’s leadership experience in both healthcare and the military has equipped him with the skills and dedication needed to serve East Texas seniors,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “His background in building partnerships and his deep commitment to public service make him a tremendous asset to our team.” Cornejo shared his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, “It is an honor to join ETCOG and to serve the seniors of East Texas. My goal is to build on the strong foundation already in place at the Area Agency on Aging and continue to expand access to services that help older adults and their families live with dignity and independence.” The AAA is administered through ETCOG and is part of a nationwide network created through the Older Americans Act of 1965. It provides a wide range of services, including information and referral, benefits counseling, case management, health education, senior nutrition programs, housing repair, caregiver support, and Ombudsman advocacy for individuals in long-term care facilities. These programs are designed to help older residents remain active and independent in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
