The Boulder Junction Public Library invites the community to join us for a monthly Medicare Information Series with J. Patrick Smothers, Elder Benefit Specialist with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Vilas County on Tuesday, August 20 at 2:30pm, Thursday, September 5 at 10:30am, and Tuesday, October 8 at 10:30am in the Boulder Junction Community Center.

The October 8th program is “Elder Fraud and Prevention.” Many acts of fraud and scams are targeted against people 60 and older. This presentation identifies common ways fraud can be perpetuated against elder citizens via programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Also, seniors can be victims of technology, investment, and romance scams. Smothers will go over what to look out for, and how to prevent it.

J. Patrick Smothers is an Elder Benefit Specialist (EBS) with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Vilas County. He started his position in April 2024 when Susan Corrieri retired. An EBS is a paraprofessional trained by GWAAR (Greater Wisconsin Agency for Aging Resources) attorneys to help persons 60 or older who have issues or questions with their private or governmental benefits. Elder Benefit Specialists are called “Red Tape Cutters” because they help older persons with the extensive and complicated paperwork that is often required in benefit programs. An EBS helps older persons figure out what benefits they are entitled to, and tell them what is required to receive those benefits.

This program series is free and open to everyone. For more information, call the library at 715-385-2050 or email [email protected].