PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Social Services continues with efforts to educate and inform residents on the Long-Term Care Partnership Program. In April, education sessions will be held in the following communities: Lemmon, Buffalo, Spearfish, Custer, Hot Springs and Rapid City.

If you, a family member, friend or co-worker would like to find out more about long-term care, the costs related to it, how to plan for long-term care needs, what Medicare and Medicaid will cover and how the Long-Term Care Partnership Program can help you, now is your chance. The education sessions are free and open to the public. Below are the times, dates and locations for the month of April. Each session is scheduled for one hour.

• LEMMON: Monday, April 7, 2008
  Location: Community Center, 100 3rd Street West
  Time: Session will be held at noon.
• BUFFALO: Monday, April 7, 2008
  Location: Harding Co. Memorial Rec Center, 209 Ramsland Street
  Time: Session will be held at 5:30 p.m.
• CUSTER: Tuesday, April 8, 2008
  Location: Main Street Market Place, 529 Mt. Rushmore Road
  Time: Session will be held at 9 a.m.
• HOT SPRINGS: Tuesday, April 8, 2008
  Location: Super 8 Motel, 800 Mammoth Street
  Time: Session will be held at noon.
• SPEARFISH: Thursday, April 10, 2008
  Location: Hudson Hall, 222 West Hudson
  Time: Session will be held at 9 a.m.
• RAPID CITY: Thursday, April 10, 2008
  Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rm 102, 444 N. Mt. Rushmore Road
  Time: Sessions will be held at noon and 7 p.m.

If you are unable to attend a live session, a free educational conference call is also available and will be conducted on:

• Friday, April 11, 2008 at 9 a.m. and noon (CT); each call will last one hour.
  

To participate in this call, dial: 1-866-809-6529 and enter the following ID number followed by the pound key: 8448656#. Callers can also download and print a copy of the presentation at www.ltcpartnership.sd.gov that will be used during the call.

About the Long-Term Care Partnership Program: The Long-Term Care Partnership Program is a public-private partnership offering individuals quality, affordable long-term care insurance. Once private insurance benefits are used, special Medicaid eligibility rules are applied if additional coverage is necessary. The Department will continue to offer community education sessions, educating and informing citizens on the Long-Term Care Partnership Program and the need to plan ahead and prepare for long-term care. To date we have visited: Harrisburg, Sioux Falls (3), Madison (2), Brookings, Watertown, Milbank, Belle Fourche, Spearfish (2), Rapid City (2), Deadwood, Sturgis (2), Aberdeen, Mobridge, Eagle Butte, Gettysburg, Pierre (2), Redfield, Miller, Huron, Mitchell, Chamberlain, Platte, Winner, Murdo, Wall, Hot Springs, Custer, Vermillion, Tyndall, Yankton, Parkston, Parker, Canton and Brandon.  In May, education sessions will be held in: Aberdeen, Britton, Sisseton, Webster, Watertown, Flandreau, Madison and Sioux Falls.

To find out when we will be in a community near you, log onto www.ltcpartnership.sd.gov or call 1-800-597-1603 to learn more.