Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of July 24
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
SUMMER SAFETY FOR THE SKIN
Summer is the time of year when the sun’s rays are stronger than at any other time of the year. Most skin cancers are caused by the sun’s harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays, although there are several other factors to consider, including skin conditions and/or burns that include scarring; radiation therapy; a non-healing infection; and having moles, especially if they’re in unusual locations like the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, inside the mouth, and underneath the nails.
Northwestern University researchers found most people do not understand there are actually two different types of ultraviolet rays: UV-A rays cause aging of the skin, and UV-B rays cause sunburn. Both types cause skin cancer. Most basic sunscreens only protect against UV-B rays.
Try to avoid the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when rays are the strongest. If sun exposure is unavoidable, apply a water-resistant or waterproof “broad-spectrum” sunscreen, which protects against both types of UV rays with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Remember to put sunscreen on your face, ears, hands, arms, and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect the scalp and neck. Don’t forget to use lip balm, too.
Check your skin at least once a month in a well-lit room in front of a full length mirror for any changes to the size, shape or color of moles, blemishes or freckles and watch for any new or unusual spots on your skin. Your doctor should examine your skin at least once a year as part of any routine check-up.
There are three main types of skin cancer, all of which can affect people regardless of skin color. One is squamous cell carcinoma, which among people of color affects those of African and Asian-Indian descent more often. Another type is basal cell carcinoma, which is more common in those of Hispanic and East Asian descent than among African Americans. Melanoma is the third main type of skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is both less common but more deadly, because it’s often not detected until it has become more serious. About 52% of African-Americans and 26% of Hispanics are diagnosed with melanoma when it has already spread, compared with 16% of white people. Melanoma is the cancer responsible for the 1981 death of reggae legend Bob Marley at only 36 years of age. In his case, the cancer spread from beneath a toenail to his lungs and brain.
Long-term exposure to UV rays can also lead to problems with your eyes, including cataracts and macular degeneration. If you plan to go out in the sun for any length of time, wear a pair of sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV rays. Some medications and certain eye surgeries can make your eyes more sensitive to sunlight. Aging eyes can also be slower to adjust to changes in light, so be careful when you are first heading outside, or inside after being in the bright sunlight.
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: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
Upcoming Office for the Aging events and presentations:
Sun 8/6, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. – OFA booth at the 9th annual “La Guelaguetza” festival
Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie
More info: www.facebook.com/pokguelaguetza
Mon 8/7, 2 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at Pawling Library
11 Broad St., Pawling
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Thu 8/17, 1 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at North East-Millerton Library
75 Main St., Millerton
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Tue 9/12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – USA Parties (reservations required)
At all Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Centers
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Sat 9/23, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – The Golden Gathering
Arlington High School
1157 Route 55, LaGrangeville
(518) 455-2945 for vendor participation information
(845) 229-0106 for any other questions
More details: https://go.usa.gov/xNedE
Wed 9/27, 11 a.m. – Office for the Aging Public Hearing
East Fishkill Senior Friendship Center
890 Route 82, Hopewell Junction
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Thursday, October 5, 11 a.m. – Office for the Aging Public Hearing
Interfaith Towers
66 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Mon 10/16, 12 noon – The Senior Prom
This year’s theme: “School Days”
Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd., Wappingers Falls
Details and signup form in the upcoming fall Spotlight on Seniors (out in late August/early September)
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 until the end of August, 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!
WANTED: MORE HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS AND DRIVERS
If you’d like to help bring hot, nutritious midday meals to seniors who are unable to prepare their own, please get in touch with the Office for the Aging at (845) 486-2555 or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.
With our expansion of Home Delivered Meals service to Fridays throughout the county, we’re in need of additional volunteers to help with deliveries throughout the county on any weekday.
We have particular areas of need in Beacon, East Fishkill, Pawling, Poughkeepsie, and the Amenia/Millerton area of northeastern Dutchess.
LOCAL VETERANS’ LISTENING SESSION (WED 8/2)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Hudson Valley Health Care System will be hosting a town hall listening session for Veterans, family members and the public on Wednesday, August 2nd, at 2:00 p.m., at the Dutchess County Emergency Response Center, 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie. The meeting is intended to provide local Veterans an open forum and for VA officials to hear directly from beneficiaries. For more information, call (914) 737-4400 ext. 2255 or email VHAHVHPAOInfo@va.gov.
HONOR FLIGHT INFO SESSION AT EAST FISHKILL LIBRARY (Sat 7/29)
Members of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight will be at the East Fishkill Community Library (348 Route 376, Hopewell Junction) on Saturday, July 29 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss their organization and its mission in our area. The Hudson Valley Honor Flight is a chapter of the National Honor Flight Network. They cover veterans in the following counties: Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Sullivan and Pike (PA). Veterans from surrounding counties will be considered as well.
HVHF is a non-profit created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. HVHS transports our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials at no cost to the veterans. In May the group completed their 16th Honor Flight. Reservations suggested for the information session. Contact (845) 221-9943 x225 or email dubinski@eflibrary.org.
Other aging news online:
Know anybody turning 100? Be sure to double-check any life insurance policies they have, because some of them still cancel out at age 100, a practice dating back to the days when far fewer people lived that long: http://www.courthousenews.com/99-year-old-holocaust-survivor-takes-insurance-cliff/
PET scans in some cases are showing that people with mild cognitive impairment and thought to have Alzheimer’s disease actually don’t:https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/brain-scans-show-many-alzheimers-patients-may-not-actually-have-the-disease/2017/07/18/52013620-6bf2-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.6b32361f311b
Scam of the week: criminals impersonating Social Security officials. https://blog.socialsecurity.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-ssa-employee-impersonation-scheme/
If you’re 62 or older and were thinking of buying one of the heavily discounted National Park Service lifetime passes for seniors, better act before late August when the price will jump from $10 to $80: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20170717/cost-of-lifetime-senior-passes-for-freediscounted-entry-into-national-parks-and-public-recreation-areas-to-increase-from-10-to-80
If you live in the portion of northeastern Dutchess that uses the 518 area code, the introduction of the new “overlay” 838 area code that covers the same area as 518 means that come August 19 you’ll have to dial a ten-digit phone number no matter where you’re calling. More here: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20170720/10-digit-dialing-starts-next-month-for-calls-within-518-and-838-area-codes(While we’re on the topic, keep in mind that the Office for the Aging has a toll-free 866-486-2555 number.)
The July/August newsletter for the Parkinsons Disease Association of the Mid-Hudson Valley is out: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxtaWRodWRzb25wYXJraW5zb25zfGd4OjcyNDY0OTcyYzZkOWNhZmM
Mental exercise time – What shape can fit through a square hole, a circular hole and a triangular (equilateral, that is) hole and touch all sides as it passes through? Try figuring it out before peeking at the answer: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jul/17/did-you-solve-it-are-you-smarter-than-an-architect?CMP=fb_gu
(video) In Canada, many seniors are finding innovative ways to remain in the workforce: http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/freedom-85-staying-in-the-workforce-1.4066767
Emoji for elders? https://seniorplanet.org/emoji-for-elders/
This week in senior birthdays:
7/24: Actress/comedian Ruth Buzzi (81)
7/25: Musician/producer Verdine White (66)
7/26: Singer/songwriter Mick Jagger (74)
7/27: Comedic actor Jerry van Dyke (86)
7/28: Poet/academic John Ashbery (90)
7/29: Documentarian Ken Burns (64)
7/30: Singer/songwriter Paul Anka (76)
Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator
Dutchess County Office For the Aging
27 High Street
Poughkeepsie NY 12601
Phone: (845) 486-2555 Fax: (845) 486-2571
Email: bjones@dutchessny.gov
