Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you about the Medicare prescription drug benefit educational sessions being held at the Bangor Civic Center on Oct. 19?

Well, with the sign-up for the new Medicare drug plan beginning Tuesday, Nov. 15, Eastern Agency on Aging is aiming to help you narrow down your choices. We are holding free sessions at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Civic Center, to review all the prescription drug plan options that are now available. Call Karyn Grass at the Eastern Agency on Aging by Monday, Nov. 7, to register.

You might be wondering how this session differs from the one in October. Well, that one was to provide information, and to acquaint you with the plans.

So just what can you expect from the Nov. 16 sessions?

“It’s an opportunity for people with Medicare to consult with an EAA staff person regarding which prescription drug plan would be most suitable for them,” said Val Sauda, director of outreach at EAA.

“This is a chance for one-on-one counseling,” she said, “and because Eastern Agency is a Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program site, also known as a SHIP, our staff has been specially trained by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Elder Services under funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Our outreach staff is a pretty impressive group and we’re really proud of the work they’re doing.”

Here is what you will need to bring to the session:

. A list of your current medications with the correct spelling, the dosage, price, preferred pharmacy and whether your doctor wants you on generic or brand name medications.

. Any letters that you’ve received regarding the new Medicare prescription drug benefit or any insurance you may already have, including MaineCare.

“Our staff will be available to explain any letters or information that people may have received,” said Sauda. “Our goal is for people to leave the session with a review of the prescription drug plans that may meet their individual needs. This information will be available that day at the Civic Center or will be mailed to the person’s residence after the event. Either way, we anticipate people having a clear overview of specific choices when they leave.”

But that’s not all. During this event, EAA is offering a variety of educational programs including a Matter of Balance demonstration on how to prevent falls, a home safety presentation and a how-to on preparing for emergencies.

Love to cook? Drop by the cooking and nutrition presentation, and with the holiday just ahead, don’t miss the session on stress management presented by our very own Family Caregiver program staff.

And one more thing. The Penobscot County Area Triad and law enforcement will be on hand to “provide a prescription drug drop-off that day,” said Sauda. “People can bring their outdated medications to the Civic Center to dispose of properly. You don’t even have to participate in the event to drop off your medications. Speaking as a nurse, I can’t tell you how important it is to get expired or unused medications out of the house. It really reduces the possibility of medication errors.”

And a special thank you goes out to other community-minded agencies who are partnering with us in this event. While much too numerous to mention here, a complete list is available from EAA. When you consider the number of agencies involved, it’s clear we live in a community that truly cares for its citizens. Everyone is working very hard to ensure you have everything you need to live a healthy life. Sign up today for one of these free sessions.

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