Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of May 15, 2017

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of May 15, 2017

Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens

Todd N. Tancredi, Director

Dutchess County Office for the Aging

“I’m more aware of my surroundings. More careful.”

“I try to do the Matter of Balance exercises every day.”

“I love the program and would recommend it.”

These are some of the comments from participants in the Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s program, A Matter Of Balance (MOB), now in its third successful year. Our last survey of those who took the classes revealed positive results. 65 percent of those surveyed said their balance had improved; 66 percent continue to do the MOB exercises; and 77 percent have taken steps to make their homes safer. Sixty-seven percent of respondents believe the program has reduced their risk for falling.

If you haven’t heard of A Matter of Balance before, here’s a quick explanation. It’s an instructional, educational program that helps participants view falls and fear of falling as controllable rather than inevitable. It helps seniors set realistic goals for increasing activity, change their environments to reduce fall risk factors, and promote exercise to increase strength and balance. The program consists of eight two-hour sessions, during which participants hear presentations, watch videos, exchange information, engage in group activities and exercise. The exercises, a combination of flexibility, strengthening and balance, comprise approximately 25 percent of the total program.

A Matter Of Balance is designed for community-dwelling seniors who are concerned about falls, have fallen in the past, restrict activities because of concerns about falling, are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength and are age 60 or older, ambulatory and able to problem-solve. If you meet those conditions, A Matter of Balance is right up your alley.

Right now the spring schedule of classes is concluding. More than 70 seniors attended the classes, which took place in the city and town of Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Fishkill, Pleasant Valley and Rhinebeck. Our fall series will begin in September and continue through November. Space is limited to 15 participants at each site. Call the Office for the Aging now to apply. Participants are invited based on their date of application.

There is a suggested contribution of $10 for the entire eight‐week program. A Matter of Balance is partially funded by the New York State Office for the Aging and the U.S. Administration on Aging, which require all participants be given the opportunity to make a confidential, voluntary donation toward the cost of the service.

Our deep thanks to Health Quest for its continued support of A Matter of Balance since the program’s inception.

Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov website: http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGIndex.htm

Upcoming Office for the Aging events and presentations:

Monday 5/22, 12 noon – The Celebration of Aging luncheon

Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd., Wappingers Falls

$40/person

Centenarians (turning 100+ in 2017) free, along with one guest

Couples married 70+ years in 2017 free

bjones@dutchessny.gov or (845) 486-2555 for information

Tue 5/23, 1 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at Wells Manor (Community Room)

Wells Manor Lane, Rhinebeck

(845) 486-2555 for information

Wed 5/24, 10 a.m. – “Successful Aging” at Vassar-Warner Home

52 South Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie

(845) 486-2555 for information

Thu 6/8, 2 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at East Fishkill Community Library

348 Route 376, Hopewell Junction

(845) 221-9943 for information

Friday 6/16, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2017

Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge #275, 29 Overocker Rd., Poughkeepsie

weaad@evercare.org or (845) 485-1277 for information

To request an Office for the Aging presentation for your senior, social and/or civic group, get in touch with outreach coordinator Brian Jones at (845) 486-2555 or bjones@dutchessny.gov. All you need provide is a venue that’s accessible and open to the public, and a space to set up a projector and screen. Keep in mind that during the summer, most of our Wednesdays are occupied with Summer Senior Picnics.

We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!

PAWLING SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTER NOW OPEN WEDNESDAYS

Starting this Wednesday, May 17, the Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Center in Pawling (154 Charles Colman Blvd.) will be open on Wednesdays, and will continue operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. A ceremonial “ribbon-cutting” will be held at 10 a.m.on the morning of the 17^th at the friendship center, with Office for the Aging director Todd Tancredi, Dutchess County Legislator John Thomes, and Pawling Town Supervisor David Kelly.

MAY IS OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS MONTH

You may know what osteoporosis is – a disease of the bones that causes them to get weaker and thinner – but you may not know it’s an issue for you until it’s too late. In the United States, almost 1 in 2 White or Asian women over age 50 are likely to break a bone as a result of osteoporosis. Men also get osteoporosis with 1 in 4 expected to break a bone after age 50. It’s important to know your risk factors for osteoporosis, including being a woman older than 65 or a man older than 70; being White or Asian; having previously broken a bone; (for women) having reached menopause; having lost more than 1 ½ inches of height; having a “stooped” posture; having a close relative who has osteoporosis or has broken a bone after age 50; having rheumatoid arthritis, an overactive thyroid, celiac disease, or Type 1 diabetes; rarely exercising or otherwise physically inactive; being underweight; am a smoker…more details here: http://www.nysopep.org/RiskFactors_KeyPoints.shtml

If you have enough of the risk factors noted above, you may want to ask your physician about a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test.

HEALTH AND FITNESS DAY – MAY 31 AT ST. SIMEON

The St. Simeon/St. Anna senior apartment complex on Beechwood Avenue in Poughkeepsie is hosting a Health and Fitness day onWednesday, May 31. For more information, call 845-471-0171. Here’s their schedule of events:

9:00 am at St. Simeon Second Mile – Walk the Property

9:45 at St. Simeon II – Alleviate Stress by Preventing Elder Financial Abuse, presented by Lisa Morris, Assistant Vice President, PR & Corporate Communications, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union

11 a.m. at St. Anna – Arthritis Overview and Adaptations, presented by Sydney Leone, Community Health Educator & Medicare partnership Development, MVP Healthcare)

12:00 noon –Free Lunch, prepared by Chef Kim Constable, OFA

1:00 pm – Meet and Greet and Brief presentations by Local Resources

2:15 p.m. at St. Simeon Second Mile – Balance for Seniors: How to Improve Balance and Prevent Falls, presented by Sarah Anson & Don Cao, Physical Therapists, HealthQuest

3:30 p.m. at St. Simeon II – The Role of Nutrition in Preventing Cancer, presented by Nimesh Bhargava, RD, CDN, Nutrition Services Coordinator, Dutchess County Office of the Aging

Also…free blood pressure readings, presented by the Arlington Fire Department:

9:00-10:00 am – St. Simeon Second Mile

10:00-11:00 am – St. Anna Library

2:00-3:00 pm – St. Simeon II

Other senior news online:

Looking for a musical form of exercise? Try a bit of drumming: http://www.nextavenue.org/health-benefits-drumming/?utm_content=bufferfc9c7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

More older couples are cohabiting, according to the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/health/older-americans-unmarried-couples.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth&action=click&contentCollection=health&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront

Japan is among the world’s top-ranked countries for life expectancy. Maybe it’s the diet: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/why-japanese-diet-so-healthy

A 63-year-old Fordham University professor was recently mistaken for a fashion icon…so she made something of it. And now she’s a model:http://www.boredpanda.com/teacher-mistaken-for-star-becomes-model/?page_numb=1&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=vamp

What’s a memory palace? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/mar/08/ancient-technique-can-dramatically-improve-memory-research-suggests-memory-palace

In the market for a new car and haven’t seen what they’re like lately? Here are some senior-friendly features to consider:https://www.tech50plus.com/five-things-look-next-car/?utm_source=tech50%2B+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=6416efc20e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_549faf9e8a-6416efc20e-104473025

Found: a WWII-era love letter to a sailor in the Norwegian navy from his wife, who passed away six years ago. The letter had been lost for 72 years; the recipient is now 96 and living in California: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NJ-WWII-Veteran-United-With-Lost-Love-Letter-From-His-Late-Wife-Hidden-Away-in-Cracks-of-Home-421944654.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_NYBrand