Not that I want to be thought of as a pest, as I have mentioned this before, but I feel it’s important to remind you of some of the things that are available through Eastern Agency on Aging – either free or for a minimal cost. Things you definitely do not want to be without.

The File of Life is a 4-inch-by 3-inch-red, plastic pocket that attaches to the refrigerator with a magnetic strip and contains a person’s pertinent medical information – medications and dosages, doctors’ names, emergency contacts and medical conditions.

A red sticker for the front door signals EMTs to look for the File of Life on the fridge.

If an emergency were to occur and you could not speak, the responding medical personnel would have a snapshot of your medical history by reviewing the file. Without it, EMTs would have no way of knowing your situation, so treatment could be delayed. This could be life-threatening.

Eastern Agency on Aging has Files of Life available, while supplies last, free for the asking.

Call us and we’ll put them in the mail. The next time you hear a siren, remember that one day it could be coming to your door. Help the EMTs save your life by providing them with the necessary information.

If you need help filling out the file, EAA can help with that too.

Now, let’s say you have a File of Life in place. You are confident that the EMTs will have a better chance of saving your life. And this is true – once the crew is inside your house.

Have you thought about what might happen if they can’t find your house easily?

Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross wants to prevent that scenario from playing out.

“The inmates at Penobscot County jail are making the 6-inch-by-8-inch house number signs of highly reflective materials which meet the 9-1-1 standards,” he said. “The signs have a strong aluminum backing and can be placed on the house itself or on a steel stake which will be positioned at the end of the driveway. Being reflective, these signs are very visible at night.”

Signs are available by calling your town office. The cost is $10 for the deluxe package, which includes two single-sided signs, (one to face each way), a post and an attachment bolt; or one single-sided sign to face the street, with a post and bolt. A third option is the single-sided sign for $4, which can be bolted directly to the house.

If you’re interested in having a sign for your home but your town is not enrolled in the project, call the sheriff’s department or EAA for assistance.

Both the File of Life and the house signs are projects of the Penobscot County Area Triad, an organization dedicated to the safety of seniors.

These are wonderful tools to help keep you safe. Call 941-2865 today to get yours.

Did you ever look at your Medicare statement and think to yourself, “I didn’t have that test done” – yet it was billed to Medicare. One way to check for mistakes is to write down all medical appointments and procedures.

When your Medicare statement arrives, compare your list to your records. The Maine Medicare Education Partnership, a program of Eastern Agency on Aging, has made this task easier by producing the Personal Health Journal.

This free, bright pink booklet has ample room to enter all medical information. Call us at 941-2865 and get yours today.

EAA now has a Web log, or blog as it is commonly known. This means that if you log on our Web site and click the EAA blog, you can write in your opinions on whatever topic is posted. We are eager to hear from you. Check it out at www.eaaa.org.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865.