Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of September 18
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
GOLDEN GATHERING RETURNS SATURDAY
Dutchess County’s annual Golden Gathering takes place on Saturday, September 23rd. State Senator Sue Serino, who chairs the Senate’s committee on Aging, will be hosting the event for the benefit of senior citizens throughout Dutchess County and the 41 st Senate District.
The program consists of health screenings, entertainment, refreshments, door prizes and over 120 informational tables geared toward the interests and needs of area senior citizens. The Office for the Aging will be well-represented, so come prepared with questions for us and all the other service providers who will be there.
From finance to safety to nutrition and more, the event is a “one-stop shop,” bringing together resources for seniors and their families that might otherwise take several trips, emails and phone calls to gather. Thanks to the generosity of the James J. McCann Charitable Trust, admission to the event is free of charge.
If you have unwanted and/or expired medications around the home, the Golden Gathering will be the place where you can drop them off for safe disposal with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.
This year’s Golden Gathering will be held at Arlington High School, 1157 Route 55 in LaGrangeville from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call Sen. Serino’s district office at (845) 229-0106 or email serino@nysenate.gov.
PROM VOLUNTEERS AND PRIZE SPONSORS WANTED
If you’d like to help Dutchess County seniors enjoy their day at the annual Senior Prom, we’re looking for volunteer help for setting up on the day of the prom, Monday, October 16th, from noon to 4 p.m. at Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd. in Wappinger. There will be plenty of decorations to put up, balloons to inflate, and more! Volunteers who can help out at the prom registration table and as ushers to guide seniors to their tables are also welcome. To find out how you can contribute, email Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones atbjones@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 486-2555.
Merchants and businesses who’d like to provide prizes for the prom can get in touch with the Office for the Aging using the contact information above. Participating businesses are thanked for their contributions on the prom program, from the microphone at the event, and in the credits of the video of the prom we record for broadcast on local cable outlets.
If you’re interested in being a guest at the prom, we still have a few spaces left. Tickets are now $30 per person while seats remain available, but the prom is an annual sellout so act quickly. Contact the Office for the Aging to find out more.
Many thanks to this year’s Senior Prom sponsors: Wingate Healthcare, EverCare At Home, Hudson Cadillac Buick GMC, Hamaspik Choice, MVP Health Care, and the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services.
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
VOLUNTEER OFA OFFICE ASSISTANCE NEEDED
We just received our shipment of 3500 copies of the “Spotlight on Seniors,” and we’re in need of volunteer assistance at our Poughkeepsie headquarters in preparing them for mailing to seniors, and distribution to libraries and government facilities throughout the county. If you’re available to help out during our hours of operation (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), get in touch with Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones atbjones@dutchessny.gov or (845) 486-2555.
If you don’t already subscribe to the (free) “Spotlight” and would like one mailed to you, get in touch with Brian about that as well. In the meantime, the “Spotlight” is also available online at the Office for the Aging website: http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/Spotlight-on-Seniors-Fall-2017.pdf
CAREGIVER ADVICE IN MILLERTON
Stop by the Northeast Community Center (51 South Center St., Millerton) on Wednesday, September 27th from 2:30-4 p.m. for a free educational program offering home-care and caregiving assistance, presented by Christine Mindur, RN of MidHudson Regional Licensed Home Care.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling (845) 483-5551.
The program is funded in part by the U.S. Administration on Aging, New York State Office for the Aging and Dutchess County Office for the Aging.
ALZHEIMER’S WALK COMES TO THE WALKWAY (SAT 10/14)
Which means there’s still time to help out, and if that date doesn’t work for you there are others around the Hudson Valley, starting next week. Details here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3qRko2q0rGUBJIIZ3YjPn-Xb3WGaAKGOFgiI7hWOtMBRuWg/viewform
SCAM OF THE WEEK
A businessperson in southern Dutchess says a scammer impersonating a utility company representative called her last week with a fake claim that she hadn’t paid her electric bill. She spotted the fake and called police. That’s the way to handle it.
Once again…utility companies don’t contact you over the phone if you have unpaid bills. That kind of issue is addressed in writing, as official correspondence. Scammers try to trigger an emotional reaction, then take advantage when their victim is distracted.
If you get a scam unpaid-bill threat call, please report it to your local law enforcement. You might be the person who saves a senior from being ripped off!
OFFICE FOR THE AGING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon 9/18, 11 a.m. – “Staying Young and Knowing Your ‘Real’ Age”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
East Fishkill Senior Friendship Center, 890 Route 82, Hopewell Junction
Thu 9/21, 11 a.m. – “Staying Young and Knowing Your ‘Real’ Age”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center
55 Overlook Rd., Poughkeepsie (rear of the American Legion building)
Fri 9/22, 10 a.m. – Office for the Aging Services presentation
At the September meeting of the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group
Unitarian Unversalist Fellowship, 67 S. Randolph St., Poughkeepsie
With outreach coordinator Brian Jones
nredkey@aol.com for more information
Sat 9/23, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – The Golden Gathering
Arlington High School
(845) 229-0106 for information
More details: https://go.usa.gov/xNedE
Mon 9/25, 11 a.m. – “Staying Young and Knowing Your ‘Real’ Age”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Maplewood Apartments, 457 Maple St (westbound 44/55), Poughkeepsie
Tue 9/26, 10:30 a.m. – “Staying Young and Knowing Your ‘Real’ Age”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
City of Poughkeepsie Senior Friendship Center
110 S. Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie
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
Tuesday 10/3, 11 a.m. – “Staying Young and Knowing Your ‘Real’ Age”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Pawling Senior Friendship Center (154 Charles Colman Blvd.)
Thursday 10/5, 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
$20/person before September 15
$30/person after September 15
Printable entry form here: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/prom17.pdf
Thu 11/2, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Office for the Aging Senior Seminars
New Hackensack Reformed Church, 1580 Route 376, Wappingers
(845) 486-2555 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 your group needs to provide is a venue that’s accessible and open to the public, with space to set up a projector and screen.
We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!
Other aging news online:
Music can be a powerful tool to help people with dementia: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/01/playlist-music-dementia
The UK is expecting a rough flu season this winter: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/12/nhs-fears-worst-flu-season-history/
…meanwhile, US researchers are tracking social media posts to help predict this season’s outbreaks: http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/11/technology/tracking-flu-twitter/index.html
What are America’s most dangerous jobs? Ask somebody in the nursing field: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/whats-one-of-americas-most-dangerous-jobs-its-not-what-you-think/2017/09/11/71eae4d8-9715-11e7-87fc-c3f7ee4035c9_story.html?tid=ss_fb-bottom&utm_term=.3c0993b7c3ee
If you’re sitting, just getting up out of the chair every half-hour will do a world of good: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/well/move/get-up-stand-up.html?emc=eta1
Artificial intelligence may be able to catch Alzheimer’s before doctors do: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2017-09-01/artificial-intelligence-could-predict-alzheimers-years-before-doctors
From the BBC, it’s “How To Stay Young”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b095gd8f
You know what kids these days don’t know how to do? Whistle real loud with their fingers. Here’s a refresher course in case you’d like to teach the grandkids. There’s practical uses, too: http://www.outdoorrevival.com/featured/how-to-whistle-loudly-with-your-fingers-its-a-lost-art-but-it-could-be-a-life-saver.html
Music legend Willie Nelson (84 and still touring) swung through Poughkeepsie this past week, so fellow legend and Hudson Valley resident Garth Hudson of The Band (80 and still touring) came by to join in: https://www.facebook.com/WillieNelson/photos/a.10151884850253453.1073741827.12597103452/10155774038508453/?type=3&theater
Seniors are helping clear hurricane debris in the US southeast…including Sister Margaret Ann and her chainsaw:http://whnt.com/2017/09/12/chainsaw-wielding-nun-clears-debris-from-irma-in-florida/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark
This week in senior birthdays:
9/18: Actor/singer Frankie Avalon (77)
9/19: Journalist/author Roger Angell (97)
9/20: Actress/singer Sophia Loren (83)
9/21: Author/screenwriter Stephen King (70)
9/22: Brooklyn/LA Dodgers player/manager Tommy Lasorda (89)
9/23: Singer/songwriter Julio Iglesias (74)
9/24: NFL legend “Mean” Joe Greene (71)
