Center for Medicare Advocacy Lecture




Photo of Center for Medicare Advocacy Lecture

/ Community News /

Center for Medicare Advocacy Lecture




May 25, 2022

Country Living at Westview Commons continued their educational lecture series for their residents with the recent edition delivered by Kathleen Holt, Esq. of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Mrs. Holt, an attorney, serves as the Associate Director of the Connecticut-founded Center for Medicare Advocacy. This non-profit legal organization was established in Connecticut in 1986, and in the decades since have continuously worked to connect seniors with the resources they need to make informed Medicare decisions. Their services are offered free to Connecticut residents; Mrs. Holt pointing out that this is one of the great reasons to live in our state! The group is staffed by attorneys, advocates, technical experts, nurse consultants, and communications specialists. As the health care system, population demographics, and communications about health care evolve, the methods that the Center for Medicare Advocacy utilize to benefit their clients and share their organization’s message have also evolved. Mrs. Holt’s lecture at Westview Commons brought the latest information and most relevant advice directly to the newly-established community of seniors living at the 75-unit independent and assisted living facility in Dayville, CT.

As the group gathered in The Great Room at Westview Commons listened to Mrs. Holt’s personal introduction and preamble of topics to be discussed, a devoted silence surrounded the resident attendees. Other than Mrs. Holt’s voice, practically the only other sounds that could be heard were the listeners’ pens writing notes and the shuffling of the data sheets, Medicare booklets, and infographics provided to the attendees. It was clear that this was a captive audience from the beginning of the slideshow presentation which was also printed and distributed to the Westview Commons residents for following along. Some of the details Mrs. Holt covered included an overview of Center for Medicare Advocacy’s mission, a brief history of Medicare in the United States, explanations of the proper Medicare enrollment instructions, and anecdotal examples from her own professional experience that illustrated her broader points. A significant portion of the lecture contrasted the differences between Traditional Medicare and Private Medicare Advantage plans. Mrs. Holt was clear to explain the benefits and compromises of each approach, and the importance of gaining this information from reliable sources rather than television infomercials. Helping seniors to understand these distinguishing factors are precisely why the Center for Medicare Advocacy offers their services.

Kathleen Holt’s presentation sustained for just over one hour; including a question-and-answer session for residents’ specific inquiries. Following the talk, Mrs. Holt reiterated her and her organization’s purpose: “Health care is one of the largest expenses that any individual has, and Medicare is a very complex program. It’s important when people are trying to make such an important decision in their lives that they have someone that they can trust and look towards to provide the services that will help them to make the most informed choice—and to be comfortable with those choices.” Mrs. Holt remained in Westview Commons’ Great Room after her lecture to speak with a few individuals that approached her with detailed questions. These conversations continued the cordiality and constructiveness of the afternoon. “I look forward to additional dialogue with any residents of Westview Commons to help them form their best health care strategies.”

The Westview Commons residents who attended this educational lecture know that Medicare coverage is a complicated matter, and now they know of an additional resource to guide their decisions. One resident of Westview Commons commented about the experience: “This education is very important. I think there’s a lot of people who are unaware of the differences between these Medicare programs. Now, we know now that there is somebody we can call who will take as much time as needed to help you. I wasn’t aware of the Center for Medicare Advocacy before this lecture, so this is a great thing!”

Executive Vice President of Country Living at Westview Commons, David T. Panteleakos commented, “The Center for Medicare Advocacy is such a tremendous resource for our Medicare eligible population. Their mission and advocacy span many decades, and their work will continue to be very important in the future. We greatly appreciate adding Kathleen’s expertise to our lecture series.”

Country Living at Westview Commons is a 75-unit independent and assisted living community conveniently located in picturesque Northeastern Connecticut. Affiliated with Westview Health Care Center, a nationally-ranked nursing facility according to CMS and U.S. News and World Report for the past years, Westview Commons is a 115,000 square foot catered living facility dedicated to a genuine 5-star experience including outstanding service, culinary expertise and professional in-house entertainment. Located in Dayville, CT, Westview Commons combines convenience, tranquility and comfort; providing a lifestyle that seniors deserve.