Article Body
NEWS RELEASE
Department of Social Services
700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD57501-2291 Phone: 605-773-3165 Web: http://dss.sd.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: Tuesday, September 1, 2009
CONTACT: Tarah Jahnig at 605-773-3165
South Dakotans urged to learn more long-term care options, prepare for future
State to offer free education sessions in 20 communities this fall
PIERRE, S.D. –Baby boomers across the state are learning a hard lesson as they help their elderly parents move into assisted living centers and nursing care facilities: long-term care is expensive. As health care costs continue to increase, many South Dakotans are taking a hard look at how to finance their own care in the future.
Long-term care insurance is emerging as a viable option for many families. The Long-Term Care Partnership Program is a public-private partnership that offers individuals quality, affordable long-term care insurance without depleting their assets. The South Dakota Department of Social Services will offer free education sessions on the program in 20 communities this fall, as a way to raise awareness about long-term care insurance and the benefits for South Dakotans.
“Many of the people who attend the sessions tell us they didn’t realize how expensive long-term care can be until they had to help a parent find care,” said Deb Bowman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Social Services. “The attendees are interested in learning more about long-term care insurance so their children won’t have to worry about paying for their care when the time comes.”
The education sessions also seek to clear up confusion about long-term care options, including what Medicare and Medicaid will cover, and where you can receive care. While many South Dakotans associate long-term care with nursing and assisted living facilities, most long-term care insurance policies include provisions for in-home care.
“It’s important to know your options, especially when it comes to protecting your future and the security of your loved ones,” Bowman said. “The sessions will help give you the tools necessary to make an educated decision about long-term care.”
Sessions will include basic information on long-term care, the costs related to it, how to plan for long-term care needs, what Medicare and Medicaid will cover and how the Long-Term Care Partnership Program can help. The education sessions are free and open to the public. Each session is scheduled for one hour. No registration is required.
· MADISON: September 3, 2009
Location: Madison Public Library, 209 E Center Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Madison Public Library, 209 E Center Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· SIOUX FALLS: September 24, 2009
Location: Siouxland Public Library, Caille Branch, 4100 Carnegie Circle
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Siouxland Public Library, Caille Branch, 4100 Carnegie Circle
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· RAPID CITY: September 28, 2009
Location: Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
Time: 3 p.m.
· SISSETON: October 6, 2009
Location: NESDCAP Community Room, 104 Ash Street E
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: NESDCAP Community Room, 104 Ash Street E
Time: 2 p.m.
· ABERDEEN: October 7, 2009
Location: Alexander Mitchell Public Library, 519 S Kline
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Alexander Mitchell Public Library, 519 S Kline
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· REDFIELD: October 8, 2009
Location: Leo's Good Food Main Floor Meeting Room, 602 N Main Street
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Leo's Good Food Main Floor Meeting Room, 602 N Main Street
Time: 1:30 p.m.
· MITCHELL: October 13, 2009
Location: Mitchell Public Library, 221 N Duff St.
Time: Noon and 2 p.m.
Location: Mitchell Public Library, 221 N Duff St.
Time: Noon and 2 p.m.
· PIERRE: October 14, 2009
Location: Becker Hanson Board Room, 700 E Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Becker Hanson Board Room, 700 E Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· BROOKINGS: October 15 , 2009
Location: Brookings Public Library, CooperRoom, 515 3rd Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Brookings Public Library, CooperRoom, 515 3rd Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· VERMILLION: October 20, 2009
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· YANKTON: October 22, 2009
Location: Yankton Public Library, 515 Walnut Street
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Yankton Public Library, 515 Walnut Street
Time: 2:30 p.m.
· WINNER: October 27, 2009
Location: Tripp County Courthouse Community Room, 200 E 3rd Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Tripp County Courthouse Community Room, 200 E 3rd Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· MOBRIDGE: October 28, 2009
Location: Dacotah Bank Community Room, 320 N Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Dacotah Bank Community Room, 320 N Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· CHAMBERLAIN: October 29, 2009
Location: SD Hall of Fame Wells Fargo Theater, 1480 S Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: SD Hall of Fame Wells Fargo Theater, 1480 S Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· RAPID CITY: November 3, 2009
Location: Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· HOT SPRINGS: November 4, 2009
Location: Hot Springs Public Library, 2005 Library Drive
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Hot Springs Public Library, 2005 Library Drive
Time: 2 p.m.
· SPEARFISH: November 5,, 2009
Location: Hudson Hall Room B, 222 W Hudson
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hudson Hall Room B, 222 W Hudson
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· SIOUX FALLS: November 10, 2009
Location: Siouxland Public Library, Caille Branch, 4100 Carnegie Circle
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Siouxland Public Library, Caille Branch, 4100 Carnegie Circle
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· CANTON: November 19, 2009
Location: Canton Public Library, 225 N Broadway
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Canton Public Library, 225 N Broadway
Time: 2 p.m.
· YANKTON: November 23, 2009
Location: Yankton Public Library, 515 Walnut Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Yankton Public Library, 515 Walnut Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· PIERRE: December 1, 2009
Location: Becker Hanson Board Room, 700 E Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Location: Becker Hanson Board Room, 700 E Broadway
Time: 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
· PLATTE: December 2, 2009
Location: Platte Public Library, 304 S Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Platte Public Library, 304 S Main Street
Time: 2 p.m.
· WATERTOWN: December 7, 2009
Location: Watertown Regional Library, 160 6th Street NE
Time: Noon and 2 p.m.
Location: Watertown Regional Library, 160 6th Street NE
Time: Noon and 2 p.m.
· HURON: December 11, 2009<