Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington

09/06/2026

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) plays a vital role in the fight against healthcare fraud by empowering Medicare beneficiaries to:

👍 Be educated about common fraud schemes, including telemedicine, genetic testing, and durable medical equipment fraud highlighted in the DOJ announcement.

👍 Review medical bills and statements to help beneficiaries spot suspicious billing patterns and medically unnecessary services.

👍 Report suspected fraud to appropriate authorities.

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

To learn more about Washington Senior Medicare Patrol program or to report suspected Medicare fraud, call 1-800-562-6900 or visit:
https://www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/medicare/report-medicare-fraud/how-identify-and-report-medicare-fraud-and-abuse

Tips from Senior Medicare Patrol to prevent, detect, and report Med...

09/05/2026

People For People is excited to announce that transportation services are back in Whitman County and surrounding communities! These services help residents stay connected to medical appointments, employment, education, shopping, and other essential services.

👉 Attend their Community Open House on Thursday, September 10th, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. at the Catalyst Church, 1185 W. Fairview Avenue, Colfax, WA 99111.

The open house is an opportunity for community members to learn more about available transportation services, meet the People For People team, ask questions, and share their transportation needs. Everyone is welcome!

09/04/2026

If you have met the contribution and care needs requirements, you can apply for benefits when you need long-term care. To get started, you will create a benefits account and fill out a brief online application. You or someone helping you can also call 844-CARE4WA to have a WA Cares team member guide you through the online application or apply over the phone. For in-person support, contact us, your Area Agency on Aging at (509) 960-7281.

You may earn up to $36,500 (which grows over time with inflation) to help pay for the long-term care you need. Learn how to create an account and apply for benefits at wacaresfund.wa.gov/apply.

09/03/2026

Attend an upcoming one-on-one counseling appointment to learn more about Medicare and get your questions answered with our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)!

Join us:
👉 Sept. 10, Spokane Valley Library, 22 N Herald
👉 Sept. 17, Aging & Long Term Care, 1313 N Atlantic, 3rd Floor
👉 Sept. 22, Aging & Long Term Care, 1313 N Atlantic, 3rd Floor

These unbiased sessions are free, local, and open to the public! Bring your questions, SHIBA’s here to make Medicare make sense.

View our calendar for upcoming Medicare classes and presentations:
https://www.altcew.org/news-events/event-calendar/

09/02/2026

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is coming up later this month, join us as we Step Up for safety!

Falling is not a normal part of aging, and there’s a lot you can do to lower your risk!

🧠 Take the quick Falls Free CheckUp, a simple, 13-question digital screening that gives you a personalized falls risk score and guidance to help you stay steady on your feet: ncoa.org/FallsFreeCheckUp

✅ Join us for an upcoming A Matter of Balance class starting on September 9th, October 5th, or October 26th to reduce fears of falling and increase activity levels. Learn more at www.altcew.org/a-matter-of-balance.

☎️ Participate in FallsTalk, a series of phone conversations with a trained facilitator about your recent experience with falls and losses of balance, to explore options and ideas to increase steadiness and safety. Visit www.altcew.org/programs-services/preventing-falls to learn more.

Let’s work together to stay confident, connected, and !

09/01/2026

💜 World Alzheimer’s Month: September Events 💜

This September, join us for a full month of free education, support, and resources for individuals and families navigating dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

📅 September 1st | 10:00–11:30 AM
Hospice & Palliative Care Panel
*Hospice providers from multiple agencies discuss how to navigate hospice care, the differences between local providers, and what to expect.

📅 September 5th | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (Zoom only)
Dementia Friends
*Learn how dementia changes the brain, communication tips, and early warning signs.

📅 September 14th | 1:00–2:30 PM
GUIDE Program Panel
*Four GUIDE providers share how the program is going, its benefits, and what's next for the model.

📅 September 21st | 10:00–11:30 AM
Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy Panel: Therapists discuss treatment options and modalities for people living with dementia.

📅 September 29th | 2:00–4:00 PM
Free Memory Screenings
*Concerned about brain changes? Join us for a free, confidential memory screening. Save this flyer and mark your calendar — every session is free and open to the community.

📧 [email protected]
📞 (509) 777-1629

For more, check out our event calendar: https://www.altcew.org/news-events/event-calendar/

08/31/2026

What is the Older Americans Act?

For 60 years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has connected older adults and their caregivers to services that help older adults age with health, dignity and independence in their homes and communities, where they want to be!

With the rapid growth of America’s aging population, one in five Americans are projected to be 65 or older by 2030. It is essential that Congress make wise investments in the OAA that serves every community in the country.

Learn more about the OAA:https://www.usaging.org//Files/Get%20to%20Know%20the%20OAA%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

08/30/2026

Volunteering can be rewarding and with SHIBA, you get to learn something useful while helping people out.

Our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) get to know Medicare inside and out, build real communication skills, and meet people in their community who genuinely need a hand. It's a win-win.

Curious? Come join us: www.altcew.org/volunteer/statewide-health-insurance-benefits-advisors

08/29/2026

Join us at the 3rd annual Palouse Regional Butterfly Release and Celebration of Lives!

Hosted by Rural Resources Community Action and Friends of Hospice, this event is an opportunity to honor the loved ones we have lost.

September 12th @ 11am
Schmuck Park
1301 N Morton St, Colfax, WA 99111

Reserve your own butterfly at no cost by following the QR code below, or calling RRCA at 509-332-0365.

This event is open to everyone and will be broadcasted via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. Contact RRCA for more information.

08/28/2026

World Alzheimer’s Month is coming up this September! Wondering how you can participate? Join us for Expert Panels covering a variety of important topics throughout the month.

💜September 1 @ 10 – 11:30 AM – Hospice Care
💜September 5 @ 11 AM – 12 PM – Dementia Friends
💜September 14 @ 1 – 2:30 PM – GUIDE Program Update
💜September 21 @ 10 – 11:30 AM – Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
💜September 29 @ 2 – 4 PM – Memory Screenings

Visit our website event calendar for the full calendar of events: https://www.altcew.org/news-events/event-calendar/

Visit our website to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer's disease: https://www.altcew.org/programs-services/dementia-memory-loss/