Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of June 11
Note: If you’d like to volunteer at the Senior Picnic being held this coming Wednesday (6/13) in Pine Plains, or any of the other nine remaining picnics on the schedule, get in touch with OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones at (845) 486-2555 or email bjones@dutchessny.gov. It’s a great opportunity for people of all ages to volunteer – everybody from seniors and retirees, to students looking to fulfill community-service obligations.
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
NEW MEDICARE CARDS, SAME MEDICARE SCAMS
Since April, the federal government has been issuing new Medicare cards, with a new identifier consisting of 11 alphanumeric characters to replace the Social Security number that was part of the Medicare card since the program’s inception over 50 years ago. It’s a massive project, with over 60 million cards being mailed to beneficiaries nationwide. The last of the cards is expected to be sent out in April 2019.
And when’s your card arriving? The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicates that cards will be mailed out in New York and the New England states to current beneficiaries “after June 2018.” You can sign up to receive an email notification when your new card is mailed at www.medicare.gov/newcard .
Individuals who are newly eligible for Medicare will receive the new cards as they become eligible.
Your new identifier is aimed at ending one of Medicare’s chief security vulnerabilities: the use of a Social Security number as a personal identifier. Scammers have exploited this weakness to steal both from individuals and from the Medicare program itself, with annual Medicare fraud losses estimated at over $60 billion annually, according to Senior Medicare Patrol.
You do not need to do anything to receive your new Medicare card. It will be sent to you automatically, at no cost to you, but scammers are trying to fool people into thinking otherwise. You do not need to pay for the new card, and Medicare will not contact you asking for your personal information: after all, they already have your personal information.
The cards will be mailed to the address Medicare has on file for you with Social Security. If you’ve moved to a new residence recently, you can check the accuracy of your address at www.ssa.gov, by calling (800) 772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office. In Dutchess County, there’s a Social Security office at 332 Main St. in Poughkeepsie that can be reached at (877) 405-6747. They’re open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday,Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. – noon on Wednesday.
Your current Medicare number will still be valid until the end of 2019, but when you get your new card, be sure to present it to your health care providers so that they have up-to-date information. Once that’s done, you can destroy your old Medicare card to keep your Social Security information out of scammers’ hands.
To learn more about how you can prevent Medicare fraud, visit Senior Medicare Patrol atwww.smpresource.org.
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
Unless otherwise indicated, call (845) 486-2555 for more information
Tue 6/12, 1 p.m. – Office for the Aging Services presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Town of Wappinger Senior Center (at Wappinger Town Hall)
Mon 6/18, 2 p.m. – Office for the Aging Services presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Horizons at Fishkill, 14 Dogwood Lane, Beacon
Tue 6/19, 7 p.m. – Successful Aging, with OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Catholic Widows and Widowers of Dutchess and Putnam meeting
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, 1925 NY 82, LaGrangeville
Sat 9/22, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – at the Golden Gathering
Arlington High School, 1157 NY 55, LaGrangeville
(845) 229-0106 or email goldengathering41@gmail.com for information
Mon 10/15, 12 noon – 4 p.m. – Office for the Aging Senior Prom
Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd., Wappinger
This year’s theme: “The Big Game” – dress as a spectator or participant in your favorite sport or athletic activity. Any other questions? Email bjones@dutchessny.gov.
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 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.
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!
DRIVING FOR SENIORS EVENT (Mon 6/11)
Golfers, get a round in for a good cause on Monday, June 11th at the McCann Memorial Golf Course (Wilbur Blvd., Poughkeepsie) for “Driving for Seniors,” proceeds from which will benefit Friends of Seniors, which provides telephone companionship and non-emergency medical transportation for seniors throughout Dutchess County. Services also include grocery shopping, visiting services, and respite for primary caregivers.
The cost is $150 per golfer, and includes a continental breakfast, lunch at the turn, and dinner afterwards at Christo’s.
One lucky golfer will have a chance to try for a Hole-in-One Shot for one million dollars.
Every player will the opportunity for a Hole-in-One Shot for $25,000, and other valuable prizes are also available.
For more information, call 845-485-1277.
PERSONAL PROTECTION FOR THOSE WITH HEARING LOSS (Thu 6/14)
Personal safety expert Jackie Emslie will speak on Thursday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, at Taconic Resources for Independence, 82 Washington St., Suite 214, Poughkeepsie.
In the event that trouble crosses our path, we must be prepared with at least some method of protecting ourselves and stopping the harmful action. Practical techniques will be introduced that anyone can make a part of their life.
For registration information, email or call Alice Tenuto at atenuto@optonline.net, 845-489-7008, or Florence Butler at florencebutler@gmail.com, 845-255-6128.
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY 2018 (Fri 6/15)
This annual event had been held in Poughkeepsie for many years, but it has drawn attention from around the Hudson Valley. Organizers say a larger venue was needed to host this year’s event – therefore, it’s been scheduled for Friday, June 15, at the Aquinas Theatre at Mount Saint Mary College in the City of Newburgh (330 Powell Ave.). According to organizers, in future years, the event will be held in rotating locations including Dutchess County, and the event remains open to all guests from any county who register in advance while there’s space.
Dutchess County will be represented at the conference by Patricia Sheldon, Director of Adult Protective Services. Additionally, Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro will join Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus at the conference for opening remarks. The event is presented by EverCare with cooperation from St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and Mount Saint Mary College.
Space will be limited, so register by emailing weaad2018@evercare.org, or by calling the Orange County Office for the Aging at (845) 615-3700.
Check the OFA calendar of events in this newsletter for advance presentations leading up to the WEEAD event at several of our Senior Friendship Centers.
Additional information: https://www.evercare.org/know-more-age-loudly-against-elder-abuse/
In related news, for those of you in northern Dutchess who are unable to make the trip to Newburgh, a different World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event is taking place on June 15 in Hudson (Columbia County), from12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Hudson Area Library (51 N. 5th St.), featuring elder-scam experts from the state Attorney General’s office. Information on legal services will also be available, and WWII/Korea veterans will be honored as well. Call (518) 751-0207 or go to www.georgesjustice.com to find out more.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETS AT MIDHUDSON REGIONAL HOSPITAL (Mon 6/18)
Trained social workers will be on hand for the Caregiver Support Group meeting taking place at MidHudson Regional Hospital’s 2 Thorne Conference Room from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, June 18. Call (845) 483-5551 and ask for Dominique Stippa to register for this free workshop.
Funded in part by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and Dutchess County Office for the Aging.
RED HOOK SENIORS PLAN SUMMER FOOD DRIVE FOR KIDS (Tue 6/19)
The Town of Red Hook Senior Services Committee is doing their part to reduce hunger among families in the school district who rely on the school breakfast and lunch program during the school year.
They’ll be hosting a food drive at the Red Hook Fire House (42 M.M. Ham Memorial Drive) on Tuesday, June 19th from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
All donations large and small are greatly appreciated. No time to shop? Financial contributions are directly passed on to the CAP (Community Action Partnership), and 100% used to purchase food for these families, at wholesale prices. All food donations are distributed to these families through CAP.
For more information, email arubin@redhook.org.
LEARN AND LUNCH, RECYCLING EDITION (Wed 6/20)
Join Kerry Russell from the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste for a discussion of recycling, at theJune 20 edition of “Learn & Lunch” at Temple Beth-El, 118 South Grand Avenue in Poughkeepsie. The program takes place at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at 12:30 p.m. The price for lunch is $6 but no one is turned away due to lack of ability to pay. For more information, call (845) 471-9817.
YOGA FOR RELAXATION WORKSHOP AT MIDHUDSON REGIONAL HOSPITAL (Thu 6/21)
Join certified yoga instructor Amy Bopela for a gentle yoga practice for relaxation and stress reduction, at the Sister Ann Elizabeth Conference Center, on the first floor of the Atrium at MidHudson Regional Hospital (241 North Rd., Poughkeepsie). Exercises can be modified to suit any level, and no prior yoga experience is required. Space is limited for this free workshop, so register in advance by calling (845) 483-5551.
Other aging news online:
Take it easy out there on the roads – there’s a statewide speeding crackdown going on through June 13:https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Fair-warning-Troopers-plan-statewide-speeding-12976199.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Timesunion_Capcon
Older adults’ risk factors for cardiovascular trouble are decreasing…and are closer to equal between men and women than they’ve ever been: https://news.usc.edu/139682/risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-men-women-equal-improving/
More information on the connection between a strong social network and preventing memory loss:https://www.usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-05-31/study-a-social-circle-is-key-to-protecting-the-aging-mind
The right and wrong ways to use home blood pressure monitoring equipment: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/white-coat-hypertension-may-be-sign-real-problem-study-finds-n867141
This week in senior birthdays:
6/11: Race car driver Jackie Stewart (79)
6/12: Sportscaster Marv Albert (77)
6/13: Actor/comedian Tim Allen (65)
6/14: Brooklyn/LA Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe (92)
6/15: Actor/singer Jim Belushi (64)
6/16: Writer Joyce Carol Oates (80)
6/17: Singer/songwriter Barry Manilow (73)
You thought you were finishing the Aging News without a bad joke? No way…
Q: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?
A: OWWWW!
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
