Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging

02/25/2026

🎉 NEI3A Hosts Healthy Steps for Older Adults Instructor Training! 🎉
NEI3A recently brought together regional partners for the Healthy Steps for Older Adults (HSOA) Instructor Training, an evidence‑based program focused on reducing fall risks and helping older adults stay safe, active, and independent.

Participants from health care, public health, recreation, and aging‑services organizations earned a 5‑year instructor certification, strengthening fall‑prevention efforts across Northeast Iowa. 💪

We’re proud to support strong community collaboration and continue advancing our mission to help older adults live safely at home and in their communities. 💙

02/23/2026

02/20/2026

Family caregivers give their time, energy, patience, and heart every single day, often quietly and without recognition. Whether you are helping a parent, spouse, neighbor, or loved one remain safe and independent at home, please know you are not alone.

At NEI3A, we are here to support you throughout your caregiving journey. From connecting you with local resources and services to answering questions and providing support at local support groups, our team is ready to help.

Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming, and it’s okay to ask for help and to do what you need to take care of yourself. Give us a call at 800-779-8707 or visit our website at www.nei3a.org for more information.

02/19/2026

UPDATED CANCELLATIONS
Due to the forecast for inclement weather on Friday, February 20, there will be no congregate meals at the following locations:

• Oelwein
• Dunkerton
• Independence
• Lamont
• Grundy Center
• Eldora
• Bellevue
• Marquette (postponed until Friday, February 27, 2026)

02/19/2026

🌟 You're Not Alone on the Caregiving Journey 🌟
Join us for our Caregiver Support Group Meeting on Monday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. at the NEI3A Regional Office

📍 2728 Asbury Road, Dubuque

Whether you're new to caregiving or have years of experience, this group is a welcoming space to share stories, find support, and connect with others who understand what you're going through.

💬 Open conversation
🤝 Compassionate community
🧭 Helpful resources

We hope to see you there!

02/17/2026

Most people want to stay in their home for as long as possible. This is called “aging in place.” Get resources to help you or a loved one age at home.

02/13/2026

Your Medicare number is just as important as your Social Security or credit card number. Make sure you guard it by never giving it out or confirming it over the phone. If a caller asks you for it for any reason, hang up.

02/13/2026

Medicare didn't just provide healthcare for seniors. Medicare desegregated American hospitals almost overnight. Here's a powerful piece of history you might not know:

Before 1965, American hospitals were deeply segregated. Black Americans were denied care at white hospitals or sent to inferior “colored” wards. Civil rights activists knew that changing this required more than laws. It required money.

When Medicare launched in 1966, it came with a catch: hospitals had to desegregate everything, wards, waiting rooms, staffing, cafeterias, or lose access to Medicare payments.

By early 1967, 95% of American hospitals were admitting Black patients without discrimination.

Medicare accomplished in months what decades of activism couldn’t. Economic pressure proved to be one of the most powerful tools for civil rights.

Today, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) counselors provide free, unbiased help to Medicare beneficiaries, ensuring they understand their rights and can access the benefits they’re entitled to. From navigating enrollment and comparing plans to appealing denied claims and connecting people with financial assistance, SHIP empowers millions of Americans to make informed health care decisions, continuing the mission for equal access to care that Medicare began.

02/12/2026

Attention Caregivers

Are you caring for an older adult but can’t make it to an in-person support group? You’re not alone — and support is just a click away.

Join our Virtual Caregiver Support Group today from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're navigating the challenges of caregiving, supporting a loved one with a chronic condition, or simply need a place to talk and connect, we’re here for you.

💬 Share your experiences
🤝 Find support
🌐 Stay connected

Join us on Zoom ➡️ https://nei3a-org.zoom.us/j/99663043881

02/10/2026

💖 This Valentine’s Day, celebrate someone special with a gift that truly makes a difference. 💖

Make a donation to Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) in honor of a special person in your life, a parent, grandparent, caregiver, friend, or neighbor, and share the love while supporting older adults across Northeast Iowa.

When you give in someone’s honor, we’ll send them a personalized thank-you card letting them know a gift was made in their name. It’s a thoughtful, clutter-free way to say “thank you” or “I care.” 💌

Your gift helps support essential services such as meals, caregiver support, wellness programs, advocacy, and independence for older Iowans.

💝 Give a Valentine that gives back. Make an honor donation today:
👉 https://nei3a.org/general-support/

02/09/2026

🌟 Stay healthy, connected, and confident with Health & Wellness 365! 🌟

Looking for something fun and beneficial each month? Join us for this FREE program designed for older adults! Enjoy lively conversations about health and nutrition, taste easy recipes, and discover new ways to stay active, independent, and feeling your best. 🥗💬💪

👉 Find a location near you: https://nei3a.org/iowa-cafe/health-wellness-365/

02/05/2026

Trying to decide between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage? Sometimes it can help to compare the two side by side. Here is a diagram showing the basic differences and similarities between the two plans. To get a deeper dive, check out this blog post: shiphelp.org/medicare-and-medicare-advantage, or find out if your SHIP offers a Welcome to Medicare workshop in your area!