Gainesville —
Cooke County’s elderly residents have a nearby resource to help them.
The Area Agency on Aging, under the Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG), is primarily responsible for the development and coordination of services for citizens over the age of 60 and for citizens with disabilities.
There are three benefit counselors in the North Texas-Texoma area
Benelle Fitts, Elder Rights Specialist at 1100 Lawrence St. in Gainesville, has been with the agency for over 10 years and has assisted hundreds of seniors and others looking for information on services.
There are two other benefit counselors in the North Texas area. Bill McCormick, Fannin County, has been with the agency for one and a half years. Janet Karam, in Sherman, has been with the agency for two years and was at the Gainesville location Feb.7.
The goal of the agency programs is to promote lifelong independence for older Texans and to provide alternatives in long-term care options.
According to Janet Karam the agency can provide information for seniors making decisions on their Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
One of her recent concerns is the open enrollment period for Medicare recipients.
“Open enrollment for Medicare and Medicaid is Oct. 15 to Dec 7,” she noted. “It is our busiest time of the year and it is so important for our seniors and those that are disabled to come in, meet with us and learn what program is right for them. We don’t file the paperwork for them but we can translate and explain.”
Navigating Medicare plans can be difficult, she continued.
”Each year plans change and what was covered last year may not be covered the same way this year,” she said. “ It can be confusing and we can educate the enrollees as they choose what plan is best for them. Some have saved over $5,000 a year by investigating all the programs and making the right decision that best fits their needs.”
The TCOG is a volunteer organization of local governmental units in Cooke, Grayson and Fannin Counties organized under the authority of Chapter 391 of the Texas Local Government code. Aging Services is only one of their departments. The program is free and is supported and funded by local contributions, foundation support, the Older Americans Act and a variety of federal grants. They are also a United Way agency.
Karam, a native Texan, spent many of her younger years in various locations before family brought her back to Texas and the Texoma area.
She said she believes she’s found her niche.
“ I apprenticed with the TCOG before I became an Elder Rights Specialist,” she said. “I have fallen in love with the seniors and people that I meet each day. It not only gives me great satisfaction to be able to help those in need but they have enriched my life also.”
Karam urges Cooke County residents to reach out to Benelle Fitts in the Gainesville office at 668-1858 or to call the agency’s 211 helpline for information assistance.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Elder rights specialist Janet Karam was recently in the Area Agency on Aging’s Gainesville office. Gainesville’s elder rights specialist is Benelle Fitts. Staff photo by Cathy Mounce
Guest Book
Agency on Aging is resource for elderly residents
- Local News
-
-
VFW plans Memorial Day ceremony
This year’s Memorial Day ceremony is set to combine rigorous tribute and storytelling with a notable twist.
-
Valley View officials sworn in
Valley View city officials were sworn in during a recent city council meeting.
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
Part 5 of a five-part series
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport – the country’s biggest air terminal for packages – goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars. -
National Transportation Safety Board considers lowering blood alcohol levels for drivers
Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have announced new recommendations in their continued quest to end drunk driving.
During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, alcohol is a common theme in many celebratory activities throughout the nation and state, and, therefore, many Texans unnecessarily die in vehicular accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
This past week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials announced several new recommendations relating to drunk driving, including lowering the national blood alcohol content (BAC) standard from .08 to .05. -
Fire support and rehab team donates to Callisburg VFD
Cooke County Fire Support and Rehab Team recently purchased some items for Callisburg Volunteer Fire Department.
-
Gainesville Rotary club unfurls flag program
Members of the Gainesville Rotary Club are currently preparing the organization’s annual flag program which delivers and displays large American flags throughout the community and surrounding area.
-
Local damage minimal after stormy night
Wednesday storms brought negligible issues to Cooke County, with more dire effects experienced to the south.
-
Guest's memoir a hit at book signing
A magical summer in Gainesville in 1935 is recalled in Betty Bradley Junkin Guest’s book “Once Upon a Falling Star.”
-
Muenster bankers meet with delegation
More than 100 members of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), along with local Muenster bankers, met in Washington D.C. with the Texas Congressional delegation, various regulatory agencies and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in April to discuss pressing legislative issues with national and statewide impact.
-
United Way begins 'Caring' project
The gauntlet has been thrown to area groups, churches and local business in a friendly competition to be held May 30 to assist the Cooke County United Way (CCUW) as part of the organization’s second “Community Caring” event in 2013.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
