Senior citizens who need help paying prescription drugs should call the Alabama-Tombigbee Area Agency on Aging at 334-682-5206 or 1-888-617-0500. Help may be available for you if you are age 55 or older and do not have any prescription drug coverage.

Need a lawyer? Did you know there are programs designed to help senior citizens? Click here for more information.

The UAB Medwise Seniors Program can provide you with lots of really good, free healthcare advice. Call 205-975-8000 for more information.

Services and Volunteer Opportunities

Services and Volunteer opportunities are plentiful in Birmingham:
There are numerous volunteer opportunities available to you in the Birmingham Metropolitan area. Want to know more? Justclick hereor hereor here.

Children's Hospital has a volunteer number--call 939-9695 to learn how you can help.

Interested in Golf, why not volunteer to help with the Bruno's Memorial Classic. For more information, justclick here.

The Salvation Army needs volunteers for it "Feed The Hungry!" Program every day of the week except Thursday from 10:45 A.M. until 1:30 P.M. and from 4:30 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. Volunteer to serve lunch or dinner at the Salvation Army. Consider organizing a group of your friends for a lunch and serve. All volunteers must be 18 years or older.Contact: Tree Davidson at 328-2420 ext. 220

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute needs volunteers to serve as a greeter, guide or help in BCRI's gift shop Saturdays from 10:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. and/or 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Contact: Evelyn Boykin at 323-5042 ext 222or see www.bcri.org for more information

The First Tee of Birmingham is an agency serving youth. It conducts year round golf and life programming for Birmingham-area youth, promoting character development and life-enhancing values. Volunteer Coaches are needed to assist with the delivery of golf and life skills instruction. Volunteers are needed at various times including after business hours. For more information, please call Chris at 428-3580 or email cwnehring@bham.rr.com.

Special Equestrians, located on the campus of Indian Springs School at 900 Woodward Drive, is a therapeutic horseback-riding program for physically, emotionally or mentally challenged. Volunteers are needed June 11 through July 23 to assist with riding sessions and to help care for the horses. There will be an orientation meeting Saturday, June 4 from 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. Volunteers are needed on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:00-11:30a.m.For more information, contact: Kathy or Jennifer at 987-9462

Urban Ministries needs individuals or groups to provide a semi-nutritious lunch on June 1-3 and June 20-30. There will be up to 25 children each day. For more information, call Amanda at 781-0517.

Dress for Success helps women transition from welfare and unemployment into the workforce by providing them interview appropriate clothing, accessories and interview skills. Volunteers are needed as personal shoppers, for clerical support, and to also sort, size and organize donations Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Working? Consider volunteering during your lunch hour!) Call 323-6640 for more information.

As many as 200 volunteers areneeded to run the "Stokin The Fire" event in August--a Kansas City sanctioned BBQ to benefit therenovation of Sloss Furnances. Call Denisa at 803-5759 for more information.

Girls Inc. needs volunteers to be a Summer Camp Mentor.

Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Volunteers are needed to help with Summer Camp at the Crestwood, Bessemer and Walker County locations Monday - Friday from 7:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. Pick a time to volunteer that works best with your schedule…before work, at lunch or right after the business day is complete. All volunteers must be at least 15 years of age. Call 595-4475 or email lholloway@cal.girls-inc.org for more information.

Volunteers are needed for the Urban Kidz Summer Camp Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in June from 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.Call 781-0517 or abowen@bham.rr.com

United Community Centers, Southwest Center, needs volunteers every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:00a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Center offers a food co-op for senior citizens. Volunteers are needed every 3rd Saturday to bag foods and veggies for disbursement and help load the packages in the cars for the elderly.Call 925-2944 for more information.

First Light needs volunteers to prepare and serve breakfast and dinner daily. Consider organizing your friends, family to help feed homeless women in Birmingham.email flcoordinator@yahoo.com or call 323-4277 for more information.

Senior Centers, etc.

If your Metro-Birmingham Senior Center is not shown here, please, email us the information and ask that we add it. We'll be happy to do so. If you have special events that are of interest to Seniors, email us a description of them and we will be happy to add them here and/or on our events calendar (as appropriate). Thanks for your help and your interest.

About Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP's)

Known as "Medicare Part D" insurance companies will offer Medicare Prescription Drug Plans which take effect in 2006. These PDP's replace the Medicare-approved drug discount cards you may have already been using. You can continue using the discount card until May 15, 2006, or until you join a PDP, whichever comes first.

If you want to use a PDP, your premiums will likely be lower if you enroll before May 15, 2006. Failure to enroll before this date may subject you to premium increases of 1% for each month you delay joining.

There are basically 2 types of plans to select from:

• A PDP: Taken alone, this option only gives you prescription drug coverage. Be careful here because a PDP separate from your Medicare Advantage (MA) plan--you could lose all existing MA benefits. A PDP can be used with your original Medicare or Medigap insurance to give full coverage, but you must be careful to arrange this.
• A Medicare Advantage (MA) plan with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage:This options gives you coverage form doctors' visits and hospital care as well a prescription drug coverage

Beginning in 2006 the new Federal law allows you to make only one change during the year, plus it limits the kinds of changes you can make. (In the past, you could change Medicare plans at different times during the year, so this is a change worthy of note.)

There are certain dates you should be aware of in dealing with this new form of insurance:

• October 1, 2005: Detailed drug benefit information is made available
• November 15, 2005: This is the 1st date for enrollment in a Medicare PDP or MA plan for 2006
• January 1, 2006: Medicare prescription drug coverage begins if you enroll by 12/31/2005
• January 1, 2006-June 30, 2006: If you are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug plan, you can switch to a different plan during this time period
• May 15, 2006: This is the last date in 2006 to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan. For each month you deal after this date, Part D premiums will increase by one percent
• July 1 - December 31, 2006: Generally speaking you cannot change plans during this time frame. (There are some very limited exceptions.)

Be aware of what is called the donut hole in Medicare Part D. The so-called "Basic" plan works like this:

There will be numerous plans offered, and for an extra amount of premium, you may well be able to purchase some form of "extended" or "enhanced" plan that will cover the donut hole. Keep your eyes open and decide which works best for you. Remember, you can change plans during the first 6 months of the year if you find something better than what you originally signed up for.

Also, be aware that if your income is low, you may qualify for assistance in paying for Medicare Part D. Consult with the Social Security Administration or the Medicaid office to find out more on this possibility.