"TOPICS TO GO"
Department of Human Services Director Robert L. Cammarata announced today that the Taunton Council on Aging has added another important feature to its Information & Referral program at the Senior Center entitled "Topics to Go". This represents a number of quick reference articles that seniors can take with them and use when needed.
The first section covers faulty auto repairs and outlines your rights as a consumer.
The next several sections pertain to financial matters. Real estate tax deferral and abatement programs, how the Senior Tax Work Off program works and information on the Circuit Breaker Credit. Also, during the tax season volunteers through AARP will assist seniors with Tax Filing at our Senior Center. If you are having financial problems you can schedule an appointment to meet with a staff person in our office for a confidential interview and they will assist you in contacting the appropriate agencies.
In the area of health you will find brief outlines for Health Care Proxy, Privacy Practices, Medical Malpractice, Medicare, Medicaid/Mass Health, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), Prescription Advantage, Medicare Part D, Long Term Care and Mental Health issues.
Legal Rights is a very important topic and we have outlined key areas that we talk with clients about all the time. These topics include Elder Abuse, Self Neglect, Grandparents Rights, Grandparents raising Grandchildren, Landlord-Tenant disputes and Representative Payees.
The next section is Probate; this section will give you definitions for the following terms that are used in Probate. They are Conservatorship, Guardianship, Homestead Act, Power of Attorney, Trusts and Wills. It is important that you are familiar with these terms and what they mean.
The last section covers the Transportation network that is available for Taunton seniors. Inter-City GATRA Dial-A-Ride and Neighborhood Bus Services along with Med Wheels for out of town transportation on a limited basis. Foxfield Taxi and Salvation Army provide long distance transportation and our local Veterans office provides medical transportation for Veterans.
New topics will be added periodically.
Employees of the Department of Human Services and Council on Aging are available to assist Taunton residents with the completion of program applications and direct clients to appropriate services. Assistance is available in the languages of English and Portuguese. Please call 508-821-1425 for an appointment.
| 
