Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of July 16

 

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of July 16

Note: there’s still time to sign up if you’d like to volunteer for this Wednesday’s Senior Picnic in Beacon, or any picnic on the remainder of the schedule: Pleasant Valley (Wed 7/25), the Town of Poughkeepsie (Wed 8/1), LaGrange/Beekman (Wed 8/15), East Fishkill (Wed 8/22) and the City of Poughkeepsie (Wed 8/29). Email bjones@dutchessny.gov for more information.

Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers

Todd N. Tancredi, Director

Dutchess County Office for the Aging

SENIOR EXERCISE PROGRAM AND “A MATTER OF BALANCE” SEEK PARTICIPANTS, VOLUNTEERS

The Office for the Aging will once again offer an award-winning, evidence-based program called “A Matter of Balance,” which is specifically designed to help seniors reduce the fear of falling and increase their activity levels. The next round of classes begins in September. Participants who attend the eight two-hour sessions will learn to:

  • view falls and fear of falling as controllable;

  • set realistic goals for increasing activity;

  • change their environment to reduce fall risk factors;

  • promote exercise to increase strength and balance.

According to statistics from the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s office, deaths from falls trail only overdoses in causes of accidental deaths in Dutchess County. Motor vehicle accidents come in at number three on the list. Not surprisingly, the over 60 age group accounts for almost 90 percent of the deaths from accidental falls this decade.

A Matter of Balance” is designed to benefit older adults who:

  • are concerned about falls;

  • have sustained a fall in the past;

  • restrict activities because of concerns about falling;

  • are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength;

  • are age 60 or older and able to problem solve.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls in older adults are a leading cause of injuries, hospitalizations, decreased quality of life and decreased independence. Falls also increase the fear of falling, causing less use of the muscles which prevent falling, a lack of balance and a higher likelihood of falling again. Once a senior has experienced a fall, they are more likely to isolate themselves and avoid social activities that are actually healthy for them – thus increasing their risk for another fall. The “A Matter of Balance” program is designed to help address all these issues.

Class space is limited, so reserve a spot by calling (845) 486-2555. If the class near you is booked, you’ll have the opportunity to join a future series of classes, beginning in early 2019.

Weight-bearing exercise is one of the best ways to keep your legs in shape and achieve better balance to reduce the risk of falls. Studies show adults participating in physical activities such as these have a lower risk of falling; and if they do fall, they tend to have a faster recovery time than a person who does not exercise. The Office for the Aging manages dozens of Senior Exercise Programs around the county. Call our office at (845) 486-2555 or email ofa@dutchessny.gov for more information about programs near you, whether you’d like to participate in a program or lead one.

In addition to our own exercise programs, countless civic groups, retiree organizations, houses of worship and municipalities operate their own exercise programs independently of the Office for the Aging.

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 7/17, 11 a.m. – “Food Safety while Traveling”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Red Hook Senior Friendship Center, 59 Fisk St.

Thu 7/19, 11 a.m. – “The Importance of Hydration”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center, 55 Overlook Rd., Poughkeepsie

Fri 7/20, 11 a.m. – “Food Safety While Traveling”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

City of Poughkeepsie Senior Friendship Center, 110 South Grand Ave.

Tue 7/24, 11 a.m. – “Food Safety While Traveling”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Beacon Friendship Center, 1 Forrestal Heights

Thu 7/26, 2 p.m. – “Food Safety While Traveling”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

The Landing of Poughkeepsie, 251 Boardman Rd.

Tue 7/31, 11 a.m. – “Food Safety While Traveling”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Millerton Senior Friendship Center, 21 Dutchess Ave.

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? Want a prom entry form? 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!

MHRH CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKSHOPS ON HIATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

The monthly Caregiver Support Groups and Workshops hosted by Mid Hudson Regional Hospital are on hold until further notice, with MHRH officials hopeful they can be resumed.

Caregivers in Dutchess County with questions can contact the Office for the Aging / NY CONNECTS with questions. Other local options include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • Alzheimer’s Association: 845-471-2655
    • Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the Mid-Hudson Valley: 914-475-2793 or
    • Northern Dutchess Hospital:  845-876-4745
    • www.caregiver.org
    • www.caregiving.org
    • For grandparents serving as parents to grandchildren: Cornell Cooperative Extension – 845-677-8223

REST IN PEACE, BOB

Many of you who attend our Senior Proms and Celebrations of Aging over the years have seen the work of our videographer Bob Mannino, a Poughkeepsie resident who captured every one of our proms and Celebrations since their beginnings over 20 years ago.

Bob passed away in late June, about two months before his 88th birthday. At the 2015 Celebration of Aging, the Office for the Aging recognized Bob’s decades of work for the seniors of Dutchess County with a Special Achievement Award. He assisted in the production of his final Celebration of Aging video project, from this past May, which you can watch at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aMzqOANYcpfXiPMdY_-1z3vxzpcfZe2v/view. Many thanks to Domenic Trocino for the camera work.

Bob’s obituary is available at the following link, including information on donations in his memory: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/poughkeepsiejournal/obituary.aspx?n=robert-f-mannino&pid=189365488&fhid=31096

THIS WEEK’S SCAM INVOLVES APPLE PRODUCTS

Federal, state and local officials are confirming that somebody is attempting to defraud people throughout the Hudson Valley by making false claims about iPhones and other Apple devices. More information here: http://putnam.dailyvoice.com/lifestyle/area-residents-report-new-apple-phone-call-scam/739323/

We’ve also gotten word of scam calls in the tri-state area in languages other than English, including Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

The Office for the Aging is in the process of putting together a new presentation on scam prevention…but there are a lot of scams to keep track of. If your organization is interested in hearing such a presentation, email bjones@dutchessny.gov and we’ll let you know when the new presentation is ready for launch.

Other aging news online:

What do your kids’ and grandkids’ videogames have to do with senior safety? Plenty, as it turns out: https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2018/jun/25/xbox-technology-older-people-hospital-admissions

Legendary musician Elvis Costello had to cancel his summer tour after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The 63-year-old didn’t indicate what his specific cancer was, but it appears to be a male-specific form of cancer, given what he said about it: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elvis-costello-reveals-cancer-diagnosis-cancels-tour-dates-696480/

Additionally, here are some good tips on how to determine whether a cancer treatment described as a “breakthrough” is really all it claims to be: https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2018/06/cancer-misinformation-in-various-media-concerns-breast-cancer-patients-in-us-uk/

If you’d like to practice the skills you learned in the above linked article, here’s a story about a possible anti-aging breakthrough: https://www.statnews.com/2018/07/09/aging-senolytics-senescent-cells/

This week in senior birthdays:

7/16: Football coach/commentator Jimmy Johnson (75)

7/17: Actor/producer Donald Sutherland (83)

7/18: Yankees/Mets manager Joe Torre (78)

7/19: Songwriter/astrophysicist Brian May (71)

7/20: Guitarist/songwriter Carlos Santana (71)

7/21: Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (70)

7/22: WWII veteran/politician Bob Dole (95)

And our Bad Joke of the Week:

Q: Why are there so many Smiths in the phone book?

A: They all have phones.

Author: Harlem Valley News