01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Department of Elderly Affairs is holding a series of public workshops to inform Medicare recipients about the prescription drug program, known as Plan D. In Rhode Island, 18 companies are offering 44 plans.

Here is a list of workshops:

Wednesday: 9 a.m., North Kingstown Community Center, 10 Beach St., North Kingstown.

Thursday: 9 a.m., Socio-Economic Development Center, 270 Elmwood Ave., Providence.

Monday, Nov. 7: 1:30 p.m., St. Joseph's Seniors, High and Jenks streets, Central Falls.

Thursday, Nov. 10: 2 p.m., Ladies' Guild, St. Vartanantz Armenian Church, 7 Armenia St. (formerly Dawson Street), Providence.

Monday, Nov. 14: 7 p.m., Cornerstone Church, 1990 Elmwood Ave., Warwick.

Tuesday, Nov. 15: 1 p.m., Warren Senior Center, 20 Libby Lane, Warren.

Tuesday, Nov. 15: 2 p.m., Shalom Apartments, One Shalom Drive, Warwick.

Wednesday, Nov. 16: 2 p.m., St. William Parish Hall, 200 Pettaconsett Rd., Warwick.

Monday, Nov. 21: 2 p.m., Cumberland Manor, One Mendon Rd., Cumberland.

Tuesday, Nov. 22: 10 a.m., St. Martin dePorres Center, 160 Cranston St., Providence.

Monday, Nov. 28: 2 p.m., Ralph J. Holden Community Center, 361 Cowden St., Central Falls.

Wednesday, Nov. 30: 9:30 a.m., The Center, 25 St. Dominic Rd., South Kingstown.

Wednesday, Dec. 14: 1 p.m., Rhode Island Lung Association, VASA Hall, 43 Bald Hill Rd., Cranston.

For more information about the workshops, call the Department of Elderly Affairs at (401) 462-0509.