Elder Benefits Event a Success!

On Wednesday, October 4th, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) held its first Traveling Elder Benefits Event at the Mole Lake Conference Center. We began the day with our Veterans displaying the flags and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. There were representatives from Mole Lake Elder Programs, Mole Lake Clinic, GLITC AmeriCorps Seniors, GLITC Aging and Disability Services, Senior Medicare Patrol, Judicare Legal Aid (formerly Wisconsin Judicare, Inc.) and ADRC of the Northwoods. More than 20 Tribal Elders stopped in, listened to presentations and visited the information tables.

Ellen Pimentel, with Judicare Legal Aid, gave a very informative presentation on the Rights and Responsibilities of Tribal Elders. Ellen spoke on the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), Tribal Disability Rights, Medicare from A to D and Medicaid.

We also heard from Mary Wolf, Director of GLITC’s Tribal Aging and Disability Services. Mary spoke on living a good, healthy life with Medicare’s preventive services. She encouraged everyone to exercise, eat well, keep a healthy weight, not to smoke and take advantage of the preventive services available to Elders. Mary shared all the preventive screenings available and the importance of being up to date on your vaccines.

None of us were really sure how the first Traveling Elder Benefits Event was going to turn out, but from what vendors, presenters and attendees shared, it was a huge hit. For anyone who was unable to attend, the SCC Elder Program is willing to transport Tribal Elders to Lac du Flambeau when they hold their event.

Thank you to Troy and Tron from the Mole Lake Conference Center. They did a fantastic job as always. We would also like to give a special thank you to Joyce Binder and the GLITC staff for having this vision and giving Mole Lake the opportunity to host the first event.