From the grab bag this week:

• The IRS imposter scam was the most common fraud reported to the Fraud Hotline last year. It is important to note that the IRS will always mail a bill to a taxpayer before trying to call. Seniors who receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS should call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484. Seniors should also report these calls to the Senate Aging Committee’s Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) and local law enforcement.

• A third of people 65 or older fall every year, according to the March issue of Senior News. These falls result in serious injury as head trauma or a fracture. Two million older adults are treated each year in the Emergency Room for non-fatal injuries

Starting next month, an instructor from Southern Maine Agency on Aging will conduct “A Matter of Balance” at the Lakes Region Senior Center, 40 Acorn Drive, Gorham. This is an eight-week program, held from 9-11 a.m. on Fridays, beginning April 15 and ending June 3. Cost is $20 for the eight weeks and payable in advance. A sign-up sheet is available at the center or call Blanch at 892-5604 for details. The program is open to everyone but space is limited to 15.

• On Tuesday, April 5, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging will offer a Welcome to Medicare seminar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham, from 10 a.m. -noon.  In addition to the Medicare seminar, there will be one-on-one counseling with volunteer Medicare advocates available from 9 a.m.-noon on both April 5 and 19. The seminar and counseling are intended to help you sort through your Medicare options, answer questions – and to help you enroll.  In addition to Medicare assistance, counseling on tax and rent rebate, food stamps and fuel assistance can be arranged. The Southern Maine Agency on Aging has similar programs throughout the area. To register or for more information, call 396-6500 or 800-427-7411, or www.smaaa.org.

• On Wednesday, March 30, Lakes Region Senior Center will hold a coffee social with Heather Perry, the new superintendent of Gorham School Department. She will take questions, concerns and ideas from the audience. The event will be at 9 a.m. at Little Falls Activity Center in Gorham, the site of the Senior Center and is free and open to the public. The Senior Center is a drop-in facility for senior citizens in the Lakes Region. It is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. daily.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.