Online Dating

It’s the Medicare Open Enrollment Period Now

It is that time of the year again: Medicare Open Enrollment. Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7.

Looking to change your plan?

Looking to save money?

Just need help navigating the Medicare Maze?

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) can help you.

Please contact 910-754-6224 to schedule your Medicare appointment. Rather email? rtarquinio@bsrinc.org

Have a Little Extra? Lend Your Fellow Seniors a Hand!

Although our BSRI centers are example, you can direct your lunch program, or general use. closed to the public, our donation to Meals on Wheels, a You can contribute online at programs, services, and seniors’ recreation program, Calabash https://bsrinc.org/donate/. needs have NOT stopped! If you Cleanse 2020, the congregate You can mail a can, please make a contribution or donation contribution to BSRI to to any of our centers, or help us continue to to BSRI, 3620 Express provide our essential Drive Shallotte, NC programs and services. 28470. Please make

If you’d like your checks payable to contribution to go to a Brunswick Senior particular program, just Resources, Inc. let us know. For BSRI staff thanks you!

SHIIP Volunteers Celebrate Milestones

By M. René Tarquinio, LBSW

It’s the time of year, Medicare Open Enrollment, when we most appreciate our Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteers. The volunteers featured here have spent years helping Brunswick County seniors navigate the complicated world of Medicare. Thank you so much, volunteers—we couldn’t do it without you!

Mary Celebrates 15 Years

Mary Fitzgerald grew up in Niagara Falls, N.Y., but spent many years in Northern Virginia where she worked and raised a family. She is a retired nurse who spent most of her career working in hospitals.

She and her late husband retired in 2004 and moved to Ocean Isle Beach where she enjoys outdoor activities as well as reading and playing mah-jongg. Mary also has a sweet tooth and loves eating chocolate.

Mary has a servant’s heart and she knew that she wanted to do more with her time, so she joined the SHIIP as a volunteer counselor in 2005. Mary enjoys counseling Medicare beneficiaries at the Shallotte Center, but will also help at the Calabash Center whenever she is needed. Mary also helps deliver meals to homebound seniors in the Shallotte area.

Celeste Celebrates 10 Years

Celeste Korpon moved to Brunswick County from Maryland in 2006. She spent 31 years as a history teacher and a library media specialist at the middle and high school level.

She loves to play golf and bridge and is active on committees in her community. Celeste and her husband also enjoy traveling and she has some amazing travel adventures to share.

At retirement, Celeste wanted to find a volunteer position that would challenge her and keep her mind sharp, while helping people at the same time. SHIIP fit the bill for her. She enjoys being able to assist retirees with sorting out their Medicare options and helps them to navigate the Medicare maze. Celeste is also able to use her background in education as she enjoys teaching Introduction to Medicare classes.

Judy Celebrates 5 Years

Judy LaRocca is originally from New York state, but spent 27 years in New Jersey. Initially, she received her SHIIP training in N.Y. after retiring from a 42-year career in health insurance.

She and her husband relocated to Brunswick County five years ago and she knew that she wanted to continue to help people through the SHIIP program. Judy soon completed her SHIIP training in North Carolina and joined the BSRI SHIIP team as a counselor in the Leland area.

Judy loves helping people and says that she is proud to be able to assist them with understanding the complexities of Medicare.

Judy has been a wonderful asset to the BSRI SHIIP team and we hope that she will be with us for many more years.