Bing Crosby and Santa Claus have nothing on Eastern Agency on Aging. Silver bells and sleigh bells may be ringing throughout the land but here at EAA, it’s the ringing of the phone that is most pervasive.

The explanation for this phenomenon is the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, or Medicare Part D.

“Our mission is to help as many Medicare beneficiaries as we can,” said Val Sauda, director of outreach at EAA. “We are committed to that goal. However, historically when people have called us, we were able to get back to them in about 24 hours. This is not the case with Medicare D.

“The sheer volume of calls is putting us on at least a five- or six-day call back. We are asking people to be patient with us as we are only human,” Sauda said. “We love that people are calling us, and it’s our job to assist them – we just can’t do it as quickly as some might like.”

Let’s look at the numbers. There are thousands of people on Medicare in EAA’s area. There are about a dozen staff people at any given time working diligently to help them.

“The phone is ringing when I get in at 8 a.m. and doesn’t stop until 4:30 p.m.,” said Jen Smith, receptionist at EAA. “The majority of people who call understand that this process takes time. If your call isn’t answered right away, and just keeps ringing, please try again. We really want to hear from you.”

If you need assistance in figuring out Medicare Part D, please don’t hesitate to call. You are very important to us. But, if you have to leave a message, remember we may not return your call for a week or so. We haven’t forgotten you, we are just helping other customers.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this very busy time.

Also, volunteers will be available 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at the D.P. Corbett Building, University of Maine, Orono, to help with the Medicare Part D “comparison tool,” which will help narrow down drug plan options.

There is no preregistration. Bring with you a list of your current medications, ZIP code, favorite pharmacy and a copy of any letters you’ve received from Social Security related to “extra help” for this prescription drug benefit.

Our thanks to the University of Maine Center on Aging for its help with this event.

Take a look around your house. Do you have a weak step or a leaky window? Do you wish you had called Eastern Agency on Aging’s Eaa-Z Fix It program last summer or fall to have minor repairs done?

Well, you’re in luck. And there’s no time like the present.

“We have some great volunteers at the ready to help seniors with any inside work,” said Rolf Staples, Eaa-Z Fix It coordinator. “We can fix stairs, railings, windows, creaky floors; install grab bars; do weatherization, which is very important given the cost of fuel; spruce up a room by painting or papering; change light bulbs; change batteries in smoke detectors; repair electrical fixtures and fix most plumbing.”

Not sure exactly what needs to be done? Rolf’s crew can do a safety survey of your home. These safety checks can spot problems before they turn into big trouble. Think of it as preventative medicine for your home.

“We can do some outside work too, as long as the weather holds,” said Staples. “And as always the services, and the safety check, are free. All the client pays for are the materials if any are necessary.”

If you have any home repair needs, call Rolf at 941-2865. His roving band of handymen -and women – are at your service.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, TTY 992-0150, email info@eaaa.org or log on www.eaaa.org.