Community Care Team News
March/April 2003

CCT News
Welcome to the first edition of the Community Care Team News. This bimonthly newsletter is our way of keeping you informed about programs and services available to residents in the West Towns communities. My name is Carol Alfrey and I took over as West Towns Coordinator in September 2002 when Bruce returned full time to the funeral home. One of my goals this year is to make sure each CCT member has useful and timely information to share with their friends, family and co-workers. I hope this newsletter, along with our training sessions, help you better help those around you.

Tax Help for Area Seniors
AARP and the Elburn Public Library have teamed up to provide free, confidential tax help for area senior citizens. Tax-Aide 2003 is available Wednesdays, February 4- April 9th between 9 am and noon. While the service is free, clients must call the library to make an appointment (630/365-2244) and pay for any copying charges. AARP and Community Care Team member, Ron Limbrick is one of the volunteers working with this program.
He recommends bringing the following items to your appointment:
  • Copy of last year's income tax return
  • Current year's tax forms and preparation booklet
  • W-2 forms from each employer
  • Unemployment compensation statements
  • SSA-1099 form if you received Social Security benefits
  • All 1099 forms showing interest and/or dividend and documentation showing original purchase price of sold assets
  • 1099R if you received a pension or annuity
  • all forms indicating federal income tax paid
  • child care provider information (name, employer, ID, Social Security number)
  • all receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions, and
  • Social Security numbers for all dependents
Call for your appointment today! Clients will be served on a first come, first served basis.

Cancer Patients Fly Free
Critical treatment centers, often thousands of miles away, are frequently a cancer patients best chance for survival. But costly airfare, stressful delays, and unnecessary exposure to crowds are the last thing these patients need. Corporate Angel Network is a nationwide public charity with only one mission: to arrange passage for cancer patients to treatment centers using the empty seats on corporate jets. The Network is comprised of 500 major corporations who make empty seats on their aircraft available to cancer patients. They have flown over 15,000 flights with Corporate Angel Network patients on board. The toll-free patient phone number is 866/328-1313 or check out their websites: Info@CreforpAngelNetwork.org or www.CorpAngelNetwork.org. 		  Language Access to Healthcare
Do you know someone who does not speak English as their primary language? If so, they may need special help when accessing health care. Language Access to Healthcare is a not-for-profit, community based program that provides highly trained medical interpreters to the healthcare community at economical rates. Kane county doctors, hospitals, schools and other public institutions can access limited free interpreting services through this program. For more information call 630/801-2727.

Help paying for Prescriptions
The Medicine Program assists individuals of all ages who are regularly required to take prescription medication but lack adequate income to fill their prescriptions each month. Most of people using this program are living on retirement income, welfare checks, disability or are among the working low to middle income. Most clients have too much income to qualify for government prescription assistance, but not enough to purchase private prescription drug insurance coverage. many patient assistance programs now available. These assistance programs work with drug manufacturers nationwide to provide free medication to qualifying individuals. A customized packet is provided by the Medicine Program that describes the specific steps to be taken by the patient and doctor to proceed with the application process. The $5 per prescription application fee is returned to the patient if they end up not qualifying for any program. Applications are available at the West Towns offices or on line at www.themedicineprogram.com.

Infant Massage...For Dad!
The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Healthy Families is offering a series of five infant massage classes led by a certified massage therapist, FREE to first time fathers in Kane County on Mondays, April 14-May 12, 6-7 pm. Classes will be held at 49 E. Downer Place, 3rd floor in Aurora. To register, call Kit Gosselin at 264-7294 or 978-9754, ext. 465.

Set the VCR Timer...
"Zenith" is a "heartbreaking, yet hilarious" documentary about a group of real-life struggling farmers from a tiny Kansas farm church who stage an amateur outdoor Easter play, call the Great Plains Passion Play. It takes a look at financial hardship in rural America and the ways one small town is fighting to stay united and inspired. This film has played to sold out crowds around the US, including Minneapolis, New York and Los Angeles. Anticipated viewing on NBC is sometime in April, probably around Palm Sunday or Easter. For more info go to: www.zeniththemovie.com.