REAL resource center completes accreditation

REAL Services' Aging and Disability Resource Center successfully completed the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems Accreditation. AIRS Accreditation is a way in which to gauge the quality of an information and referral program. The multi-phase process assesses more than 200 distinct operational components and culminates in a detailed on-site review.

REAL Services' ADRC connects individuals with knowledgeable staff who are able to assist callers with their needs and goals as well as link them to programs and services. The ADRC covers Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. This service is available to all, regardless of age or income.

Call the ADRC at 284-2644 or toll free at (800) 552-7928.

CASSOPOLIS, MICH.

Older adults can get free enrollment assistance

Open season for Medicare Part D enrollment begins Nov. 15 and older adults can get enrollment assistance free of charge at the Cass County Council on Aging.

Case managers are accepting appointments and have added two Saturdays, Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, to their schedules for added convenience. Saturday appointments will be scheduled beginning at 8:30 a.m., and weekday appointments will be scheduled during normal business hours.

Case managers are trained through the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program to help older adults and their families make appropriate decisions for health care, and can help with completing paperwork and communicating with other human services agencies.

MMAP Inc. is a free service that works through the Area Agencies on Aging to provide high-quality and accessible health benefit information and counseling.

For appointments or more information call (800) 323-0390 or (269) 445-8110. The Cass COA is The Cass COA is located at M-60 and Decatur Road in Cassopolis.

DOWAGIAC

New locations for Council on Aging programs

Cass County Council on Aging is pleased to announce new locations for its Dowagiac programs, which began Monday.

Fitness classes will move to the Apostolic Lighthouse Church at 30402 M-62. This includes Vim and Vigor Aerobics at 8:30 a.m. and Sit, Exercise and Tone (SEAT) at 9:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Water aerobics will continue at the Baymont Inn and Suites.

All other activities -- including Brain Aerobics, haircuts, massage, lunch and bingo -- will be at the First United Methodist Church, 326 N. Lowe St., at their regularly scheduled times.

For more information call (800) 323-0390 or (269) 445-8110.

GOSHEN

Doctor will sign copies of his new book on Friday

On Friday from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Dr. Glen E. Miller will be signing copies of his new book, "Empowering the patient: How to reduce the cost of healthcare and improve its quality" (Dog Ear Publishing, 2009) at Better World Books, 118 E. Washington St., Goshen.

The book is a collection of doctor-patient situations. The stories reflect Miller's experiences both as a doctor and as a patient.

Miller is a 1957 alumnus of Goshen College and attended medical school at Case Western University in Ohio. He retired from medicine after 29 years, and is working with Mennonite Church USA to promote health care and health care access.

Miller's book is currently for sale at Better World Books for $14.95. More information is available by calling 534-1984.

GOSHEN

Event about how to keep your brain healthy

Join the Retreat Women's Health Center for "Memories to Keep" on Saturday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The Retreat, 1135 Professional Drive, Goshen. Dr. Jody Neer, neurologist, will discuss how to keep brains healthy.

Dr. Neer will also discuss caring for loved ones with neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Also joining the discussion will be a Creative Memories consultant who will share scrapbooking tips and lead the group in a scrapbooking activity. Light refreshments will be provided.

A $5 donation is requested to support HeartStrings Sisters, providing free screening mammograms to uninsured women. Seating is limited, so please call The Retreat at 537-5000 to reserve a seat.

ELKHART

Bittersweet Medical to host free open house

Bittersweet Medical Associates will host a free Community Open House on Saturday, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the new office building at 12340 Bittersweet Commons Boulevard East, located just east of the intersection of Bittersweet Road and S.R. 23 in Granger.

Area residents will have the opportunity to tour the new facility and meet the medical staff. Attendees will be able to enter drawings of door prizes from local businesses, refreshments, mini-massages and free health screenings. Health screenings include non-fasting cholesterol, non-fasting blood glucose, body fat and blood pressure screenings.

For additional information please call community relations at 523-3303 or visit www.egh.org.