Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
(Note: Daylight Saving Time started at 2 a.m. on Sunday 3/11, which means that you should have set your clocks ahead by one hour. Here’s why losing that one hour of sleep might be a bigger deal than you think: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/03/harvard-researcher-sheds-light-on-links-between-sleep-and-health/ )
COUNTY GOVERNMENT ON THE ROAD IN RED HOOK
With last month’s opening of an Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Center in Red Hook, at the Red Hook Community Center (59 Fisk St., 845-475-1129), we’re working on a plan to make OFA staff available to answer questions in person for seniors in rural areas of Dutchess County, along with staff from many other county departments. The first “County Government on the Road” event of 2018 will take place at the Senior Friendship Center in Red Hook on Monday, March 19, from 10 a.m. until noon. OFA and several other departments will have knowledgeable staff available to answer your questions about issues related to aging, county government, and other services that may be available to you, a family member, or somebody you care for. It’s a great opportunity for seniors to advocate for themselves, with County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro and many other local officials planning to attend.
LIBRARY SERVICES FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS IN PAWLING
Many area libraries provide services for seniors who are unable to travel to their local libraries, helping them remain mentally and intellectually active in the face of physical challenges.
The Pawling Free Library (11 Broad St., www.pawlingfreelibrary.org, 845-855-3444) is home to thousands of books, along with hundreds of movies, magazines, and audio books. If you are a Pawling, Whaley Lake or Holmes resident, they can be delivered to your home.
To find out more about this service and arrange a home or phone interview, call the library or email circ@pawlinglibrary.org. You’ll be able to discuss your areas of interest with library staff.
Seniors in other areas of Dutchess County can ask their local library about services for seniors and the homebound, and we’ll feature them in Golden Living whenever possible.
SUMMER PICNIC INVITES COMING SOON
We’ve been planning our 26th season of Summer Senior Picnics since last summer, and are putting the finishing touches on the invitations we send to tens of thousands of seniors throughout the county. For those of you who are new to the Senior Picnic program, our picnic season begins just after Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. Every senior over the age of 60 living in Dutchess County is eligible for one free meal at the picnic that serves their home community, while space is available.
The picnics are a free nutritious lunch, but they’re also a great opportunity to socialize with friends, enjoy great live music courtesy of Bob Martinson, speak with local and county elected officials, and learn about services available to seniors from local business and non-profit groups, as well as opportunities to volunteer on behalf of your senior friends and neighbors.
Because space is limited, reservations are required for all Senior Picnics. We start taking reservations once the invitations go out, starting in mid-April – so watch your mailbox.
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
Office for the Aging upcoming events:
Thu 3/15, 10 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
HRHCare Health Center at Amenia
(845) 486-2555 for details
Mon 3/19, 10 a.m.-noon –“County Government On The Road”
Red Hook Senior Friendship Center (59 Fisk St.)
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Wed 3/21/18, 11:30 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
At “Lunch and Learn”, Temple Beth-El
118 South Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie
(845) 486-2555 for details
Thu 3/22, 11 a.m. – “Heart Health”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
East Fishkill Senior Friendship Center (890 NY 82)
Thu 3/29, 12 noon – “Reversing Heart Disease”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Town of Poughkeepsie Senior Center (14 Abe’s Way)
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 orbjones@dutchessny.gov. All your group needs to provide is a venue that’s wheelchair-accessible and open to the public, with space to set up a projector and screen. We have our own projector and screen – but if you have those, let us know. This time of year, we recommend you come up with an alternate presentation date you can make available in case of inclement winter weather.
We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, Medicare/Medicaid, senior housing, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!
HOME DELIVERED MEALS VOLUNTEER(S) WANTED (CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE)
Our countywide Home Delivered Meals program is always looking for volunteers to assist in the preparation and delivery of nutritious hot midday meals to seniors countywide, but this week we have an opportunity for a would-be volunteer who might not be inclined to do much driving outside the City of Poughkeepsie. It involves bringing weekday meals to homebound seniors at the Admiral Halsey apartments in the City of Poughkeepsie. For more information on this and all countywide volunteer opportunities, call the Office for the Aging or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.
“HEAP” DEADLINE EXTENDED
This winter’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) was originally scheduled to expire this month, but state officials have extended the HEAP deadline to Friday, April 27.
The HEAP Home Energy Repair and Replacement (HERR) feature will continue through that date, although this season’s “clean and tune” assistance has expired.
OFA is offering additional HEAP Benefits to people who have already received their first HEAP benefit and used it up. http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/ has an overview of the Emergency HEAP Benefit program.
Seniors who have been approved for HEAP and use Central Hudson for electric heat OR for non-heat related electricity bills may be eligible for an additional discount from Central Hudson. Contact Central Hudson to find out more about eligibility at the following link: https://www.cenhud.com/billdiscountprogram
MORE “A MATTER OF BALANCE SIGNUPS” AVAILABLE
We hope you’ve been able to join one of our “A Matter of Balance” classes – there are still spaces available for eight-week sessions beginning in April and May in Wappingers and Beekman. ofa@dutchessny.gov or 486-2555 for registration info. The classes are geared to people 60 and older who are ambulatory and can problem-solve. If you can’t make it to these classes, we’re planning fall sessions countywide, and possibly some summer classes if demand is high enough.
For those with dementia who are no longer able to problem-solve, or those who are no longer ambulatory, there are other options – because falls and dementia are closely interrelated. More here: https://health.usnews.com/wellness/aging-well/slideshows/9-strategies-to-reduce-falls-for-people-with-dementia
PARKINSON’S SYMPOSIUM THIS WEEK IN TIVOLI (3/17)
A Mid-Hudson/Albany symposium on Parkinson’s disease is taking place on Saturday, March 17th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center (120 Broadway, Tivoli). The event is organized by five local neurologists and neurosurgeons, all of whom specialize in Parkinson’s treatment. For more information and directions, follow this link: http://www.cdparkinsons.org/march-17-2018-mid-hudson-albany-parkinsons-symposium/
Allow a minute or two of extra travel time if you’re going, because of construction on the bridge leading into Tivoli.
MILAN TURNS 200
Residents of the Town of Milan are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the formation of their town government on Saturday, April 7th, at Wilcox Memorial Town Hall on Route 199, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more on the event and lots more on town history, go to www.milannyhistory.org.
Other aging news online:
(audio link) Why is the incidence of diabetes growing so quickly? https://www.wnyc.org/story/sugarland-why-diabetes-growing-so-rapidly/?sf85231846=1
The human brain continues to be able to learn late into life…but where are all the young brain cells? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/03/07/591305604/sorry-adults-no-new-neurons-for-your-aging-brains
Bicycling helps the immune system “stay young”: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/08/cycling-keeps-your-immune-system-young-study-finds
A 14-year-old girl has spent the past two years working on an app for Alzheimer’s patients and their families: https://www.tech50plus.com/alzheimers-app-developer-emma-yang/
There’s a federal database of doctors who have been disciplined by boards in their home states…but an investigation has found it’s not being used as much as it could be:https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/2018/03/07/theres-tool-help-states-find-problem-doctors-why-do-so-few-use/400723002/
If your blood cholesterol has gone up since middle age, sometimes it might actually be a good thing. The authors of a new study on the issue are a bit puzzled:https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/71527
(English) Changing the Way We Look At Dementia: https://khn.org/news/changing-the-way-we-look-at-dementia/
(Español) Cambiando la forma en que vemos la demencia: https://khn.org/news/cambiando-la-forma-en-que-vemos-la-demencia/
Speaking of which…at the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, we use a service called Language Line to ensure we can properly assist non-English-speaking and limited-English-speaking seniors, caregivers and others.
Language Line offers translators in over 40 different languages. Call (845-486-2555) or email (ofa@dutchessny.gov) to find out more.
The U.S. Senate’s Committee on Aging has released a 58-page online book on the most common types of fraud that target seniors: https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2018%20Fraud%20Book.pdf
When following news stories about “remarkable” health research breakthroughs, watch out for the hype: https://www.healthnewsreview.org/review/abc-downplays-gloomy-context-in-reporting-remarkable-bace1-finding-for-alzheimers/
This week in senior birthdays:
3/12: Singer/actress Liza Minnelli (72)
3/13: Cartoonist Al Jaffee (97)
3/14: Actor/author Michael Caine (85)
3/15: Apollo XII astronaut Alan Bean (85)
3/16: TV personality Chuck Woolery (77)
3/17: Singer/songwriter/Hudson Valley resident John Sebastian (74)
3/18: Pianist/composer John Kander (91)
And your reward for reading the Aging News in full – a bad joke!
A ship carrying brown paint collided with a ship carrying red paint. The crews are believed to be marooned.
Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator
Dutchess County Office For the Aging
Phone: (845) 486-2555 Fax: (845) 486-2571
Email: bjones@dutchessny.gov
Website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
